SIT expedites police firing probe

Jupinderjit Singh & Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh/Faridkot, October 16

Even as the Congress government looks to end the Bargari morcha that has become a rallying point for the Opposition and radicals, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has expedited its probe into police firing that took place at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura in October 2015.

The government has mandated the SIT to submit its report directly to the trial court so as to avoid the allegation of an influenced investigation.

IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap, an SIT member, told The Tribune that the team had already questioned the ground-level police officials below the rank of SHO in Faridkot, including those who were present during the incidents and those who had investigated the matter.

Besides, about 21 civilians, including those injured in firing or lathi-charge and eyewitnesses, have recorded their statement before the SIT in Faridkot on Tuesday.

The SIT has only been asked to probe police firing at protesters in Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan in October 2015, and not the sacrilege cases. Kunwar Vijay Pratap said the base of the investigation was four FIRs registered after the incidents. 

The probe panel has set up offices in Faridkot, Amritsar and Chandigarh for recording the statements of witnesses. “We will submit the report at the earliest, as it is one of the most sensitive cases at present,” the IG said.

Satinder Singh, SSP Kapurthala, also a member of the SIT, is in Bargari to record the statements. Speaking to The Tribune, he said they had summoned over 50 persons whose names figured in the four FIRs registered at Kotkapura and Bajakhana in October 2015, or the persons whose names found mention in the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report.

“However, any other person who was a victim or an eyewitness to the incidents can come forward to record his statement,” he said.

Congress leader wants victims’ pics at museum

Congress leader Nimisha Mehta has written a letter to SGPC chief Gobind Singh Longowal, requesting that pictures of Behbal Kalan firing victims — Gurjit Singh and Krishan Bhagwan Singh — be put up at the Central Sikh Museum in the Golden Temple. 

She stated the incidents of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib had deeply hurt the sentiments of state residents as well as Sikhs across the world. “The painful incident of desecration at Bargari on October 12, 2015, left everyone in a state of shock,” she said in a statement issued in Jalandhar.

Victims record statements

• Buta Singh, a 25-year-old resident of Roori Kapoora, reached Bargari to give his statement. A bullet from police weapon had allegedly hit him. He was also carrying the bullet that was removed from his thigh.
• Harpeet Singh (Bangi Nihal Singh), Atma Singh (Akalian Jalal village in Bathinda), Harjinder Singh (Gurusar in Faridkot), Karamjit Singh (Kotli Ablu in Muktsar), Gurjit Singh, Jit Singh, Sewa Singh and Kewal Singh (all of Behbal Kalan) and Harbans Kaur (Bathinda) were among over 20 victims, who appeared before the SIT on Tuesday to get their statements recorded.