'Move to divert attention from Kangana fiasco': NIA raid on Punjab female farmer leader's home

By Harsh Thakor*

In a move described as unconstitutional, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided the residence of Sukhwinder Kaur, a leading female farmer activist, in the Rampura Phul region of Punjab’s Bathinda district last week. Critics argue that the state is attempting to quash democratic opposition stemming from the ongoing farmers' agitation by targeting prominent figures in the movement, marking what some are calling a rise in proto-fascist tactics.

Kaur, who has been a significant revolutionary figure in the farmers' movement for over four decades and currently holds the position of state general secretary of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Krantikari), reported the raid that began early in the morning and concluded around midday.

Kaur has been quoted as saying, “I am currently at the Shambhu border, but my husband informed me that the NIA team arrived with a search warrant connected to an FIR filed in Lucknow in 2023, in which I am named. I am perplexed as I have never traveled to Lucknow in the past year.”

During the raid, Kaur described how agents searched her entire home, inspected family members' phones, and confiscated her husband's device. The NIA even prevented her daughter-in-law from attending school, where she teaches.

Kaur remarked, “The BJP finds itself under pressure following the Kangana Ranaut incident, and they are now seeking to undermine farmers in another way. We will not succumb to their intimidation.”

Surjit Singh Phul, state president of BKU (Krantikari), noted that after Kaur alerted nearby farmers, a protest was organized outside her home to express dissent against the NIA's unannounced raid. Phul commented, “This protest highlights our opposition to the agency's actions, conducted without prior notice or written information.”

He summarized the raid as an attempt to demoralize farmer leaders, recalling similar NIA operations during past farmer protests against three now-repealed farm laws. "These raids occur suddenly, without warrants or the involvement of local police, showcasing their aim to intimidate us amid the ongoing dharna at the Shambhu border, which will reach 200 days last week" he added. Phul also stated that all farmer unions agreed to protest whenever the NIA executes raids at farmers' homes.

The farmers also raised concerns regarding the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, accusing it of enabling the NIA's actions and failing to take appropriate measures against the raids. While the NIA has not disclosed specifics about the records examined at Kaur’s residence, sources indicate that her mobile phone records were among those checked.

Another leader from the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, highlighted that Kaur had previously faced legal action under Section 307 of the IPC during protests following a deadly police shooting in Jethuke in 2000.

Sarwan Singh Pandher, a convener for KMM, criticized the Modi government's use of central agencies to target farmers, asserting that the raid's timing was calculated to coincide with the 200-day mark of the ongoing protest at the Shambhu border. He remarked, "They previously labeled us as Khalistanis, and now they will find another way to discredit us. We are undeterred by NIA raids.”

Bhatinda Superintendent of Police Narinder Singh confirmed the NIA's actions, stating that police were deployed to maintain peace and order throughout the farmers' protest. He noted that the NIA completed their documentation before departing the scene.

Hundreds of farmers continue to camp at the Punjab-Haryana border, advocating for a legal guarantee on minimum support prices (MSP) for all crops, the implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations, full debt relief for farmers, pensions for agricultural laborers, and the dismissal of cases against farmers arising from the 2020-2021 protests.

The NIA’s intrusion into Kaur's home has sparked widespread condemnation among farmers, who demand that the agency collaborate with local police for future raids and operate transparently with search warrants and community representatives present.

---

*Freelance journalist

Comments

Academics urge Azim Premji University to drop FIR against Student Reading Circle

By A Representative A group of academics and civil society members has issued an open letter to the leadership of Azim Premji University expressing concern over the filing of a police complaint that led to an FIR against a student-run reading circle following a recent incident of violence on campus. The signatories state that they hold the university in high regard for its commitment to constitutional values, critical inquiry and ethical public engagement, and argue that it is precisely because of this reputation that the present development is troubling.

'Policy long overdue': Coalition of 29 experts tells JP Nadda to act on SC warning label order

By A Representative In a significant development for public health, the Supreme Court of India has directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to seriously consider implementing mandatory front-of-pack warning labels on pre-packaged food products. The order, passed by a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan on February 10, 2026, comes as the Court expressed dissatisfaction with the regulatory body's progress on the issue.

UAPA action against Telangana activist: Criminalising legitimate democratic activity?

By A Representative The National Investigation Agency's Hyderabad branch has issued notices to more than ten individuals in Telangana in connection with FIR No. RC-04/2025. Those served include activists, former student leaders, civil rights advocates, poets, writers, retired schoolteachers, and local leaders associated with the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Indian National Congress.

Vaccination vs screening: Policy questions raised on cervical cancer strategy

By A Representative A public policy expert has written to Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda raising a series of concerns regarding the national Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign launched on February 28 for 14-year-old girls.

The new anti-national certificate: If Arundhati Roy is the benchmark, count me in

By Dr. Mansee Bal Bhargava* Dear MANIT Alumni Network Committee, “Are you anti-national?” I encountered this fascinating—some may say intimidating—question from an elderly woman I barely know, an alumna of Maulana Azad College of Technology (MACT, now Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology - MANIT), Bhopal, and apparently one of the founders of the MACT (now MANIT) Alumni Network. The authority with which she posed the question was striking. “How much anti-national are you? What have you done for the Alumni Network Committee to identify you as anti-national?” When I asked what “anti-national” meant to her and who was busy certifying me as such, the response came in counter-questions.

Minority concerns mount: RTI reveals govt funded Delhi religious meet in December

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* Indian Muslims have expressed deep concern over what they describe as rising hate speech and hostility against their community under the BJP-led government in India. A recent flashpoint was the event organised by Sanatan Sanstha titled “Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsav” in New Delhi on 13–14 December 2025.

Development vs community: New coal politics and old conflicts in Madhya Pradesh

By Deepmala Patel* The Singrauli region of Madhya Pradesh, often described as “India’s energy capital,” has for decades been a hub of coal mining and thermal power generation. Today, the Dhirouli coal mine project in this district has triggered widespread protests among local communities. In recent years, the project has generated intense controversy, public opposition, and significant legal and social questions. This is not merely a dispute over one mine; it raises a larger question—who pays the price for energy development? Large corporate beneficiaries or the survival of local communities?

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Rajiv Shah Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

From neglect to progress: The story of Ranavara’s community-led development

By Bharat Dogra Visitors to Ranavara, a remote village in Kherwara block of Udaipur district, are often surprised by its multi-dimensional progress. The village today is known for its impressive school building, regenerated pastures, expanded tree cover, and extensive water conservation and supply works. These achievements are the outcome of sustained community efforts over several years, demonstrating how small, consistent initiatives can lead to significant change.

Search This Blog