Explainer: Notices to farmers a pressure tactic or routine procedure?

Amid the ongoing tussle between the farmer unions and the government, the Ambala police pasted notices outside the residences of some farmers asking them to be present before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) over pending FIRs.

Why were the FIRs registered?

The cases were registered against the agitating farmers after they attempted to break the barricades installed by the police on the Haryana-Punjab interstate border at Shambhu to stop the farmers from heading towards Delhi. The police had booked a number of farmers under relevant sections of the IPC, National Highways Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. The cases were handed over to the SIT for investigation.

To whom were the notices issued?

The notices were issued by the Ambala police to farmers whose names were mentioned in the FIRs registered during the agitation and to those whose names cropped up in the disclosure statements. Through the notices, the farmers are directed to be present before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to join the investigation and share their side of the details and facts before the police begin further steps.

What next for farmers?

In the notices served under Section 179 of the BNSS, the farmers are asked to join the investigation regarding the case, but a majority of the farmers don’t follow the directions and term the notice as a pressure tactic on the directions of the government to stop farmers from participating in the agitations. A senior police official said that it was a routine procedure in case of FIRs registered to get to know about the version of the person whose name has cropped up in the FIR. If there is evidence against the person, he is arrested and further action is taken accordingly. They can also be arrested without giving notice if the police have evidence against the person.