Behbal Kalan sacrilege: Punjab Government seeks 15 more days to complete probe

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, July 10

Sitting on a dharna for the past seven months and demanding justice in Behbal Kalan firing incident, members of the Insaaf Morcha today reportedly had heated arguments with a team of the Advocate General’s office after the latter demand more time for completion of the probe in which two protesters were allegedly killed.

On April 10, the Insaaf Morcha had blocked Amritsar-Bathinda Road alleging tardy investigations. A team from the Advocate General’s office, led by an additional AG had gone to the spot to pacify the agitators.

The team had promised to complete the investigation and expedite legal proceedings within three months, said Sukhraj Singh, son of one of the victims (Krishan Bhagwan Singh), killed in the police firing at Behbal Kalan.

“After the completion of three-month deadline, the AG’s office team today met us again. They demanded more time to take the case to a logical conclusion,” said Sukhraj.

While some protesters opposed the extension, advocates from the AG’s office claimed that there was some delay in the investigation as two Special Investigation Teams (SITs) were probing Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing incidents.

“Both these incidents are interlinked. We have approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court to allow both the SITs to access each other’s findings. Thus, we have demanded 10 to 15 days more from the Insaaf Morcha,” said members of the AG’s office team.

“We were successful in getting disposed of a bunch of five petitions into the Behbal Kalan firing incident, which were obstructing probe and legal proceedings at a trial court in Faridkot. We are hopeful of expediting the trial now,” claimed the AG’s team.

Sukhraj said the Insaaf Morcha has agreed for 15 more days. If there’s no progress as promised, we would be forced to start the statewide agitation, he said.

Two Sikh protesters—Gurjeet Singh of Sarawan village and Krishan Bhagwan Singh of Niamiwala village in Faridkot district — were killed on October 14, 2015, when they were protesting against the sacrilege incidents.

Behbal Kalan, Kotkapura cases interlinked

Both these incidents are interlinked. We approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court to allow both SITs to access each other’s findings. Thus, we have demanded 10 to 15 days more from the Insaaf Morcha. — AG office team

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