Accused allege threat to life, demand security

Accused in the 2015 Behbal Kalan police firing case have alleged that they feared threat to their lives whenever they were taken to the court for hearing. On the orders of the Punjab Haryana High Court, the case has been transferred from Faridkot to the Chandigarh Sessions Court, requiring them to travel long distances for hearings, they said.

The accused, including the then Kotkapura SHO, Amarjit Singh Kular, have approached the Faridkot SSP, demanding urgent security measures to ensure their safety during the court proceedings. They have expressed fear of being targeted, citing the high-profile nature of the case and the history of violence associated with that.

The Behbal Kalan firing incident, which resulted in two deaths in the aftermath of sacrilege incidents, has been a significant point of contention. The accused alleged the transfer of the case to Chandigarh had increased the risk of attack during their travel and court appearances. The Faridkot SSP has reportedly assured them that their request for security would be thoroughly reviewed.

Kular said the accused linked to the Bargari sacrilege case had received death threats in 2022, prompting the district police to issue an alert and notify to the state government. Some accused were given enhanced security following those threats.