Chandigarh: Justice Ranjit Singh Commission handed over first part of its report to Punjab CM on June 30. This part of report contains commission’s findings on Burj Jawahar Singh Wala Beadbi case (June 2015), Bargari Beadbi case (October 2015) and police firing on Sikh sangat at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan (October 2015).
According to a news reported by the Hindustan Times (HT) [t]he Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report has revealed that the Punjab Police had solved the 2015 sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib at Bargari, but was stopped from nabbing the accused belonging to Dera Sacha Sauda by then Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal)- BJP government. As Justice Ranjit Singh Commission’s probe report is not yet made public, the HT reporter who broke this news said that it was based on information revealed by government sources privy to the report.
While referring to undisclosed sources, the HT report said deputy inspector general (DIG) Ranbir Singh Khatra, head of special investigation team (SIT) probing beadbi incidents, has told the panel that they had cracked the Bargari beadbi case during the previous Parkash Singh Badal regime. In his statement, Khatra has said the SIT had “reached the point of filing its report and making arrests but was asked to stop”.
Notably, there were reports earlier this year also that the SIT had cracked the Burj Jawahar Singh Wala and Bargari Beadi cases but the Amarinder Singh’s government told SIT to step back.
The SIT arrested few dera followers in June 2018 but their arrest was recorded in a 2011 arson case. While media reports repeatedly quoted Punjab police sources that with these arrests Punjab police SIT has cracked the cases related to Burj Jawahar Singh Wala and Bargari Beadbi cases, but Punjab government and Punjab police remained silence.
SIT chief Ranbir Singh Khattra during his interaction with media persons did not utter any word in this regard and said that the those beadbi cases were being probed by the CBI.
In a written statement Punjab police chief Suresh Arora said that the Punjab police would extent all help to the CBI and share its investigation details with the CBI. But he did not admit or claim that arrested dera men were behind the Burj Jawahar Singh Wala and Bargari Beadbi cases.
The CBI later arrested Mahinderpal Bittu and other followers of Dera Sauda Sirsa in cases related to beadbi of Guru Granth Sahib at Burj Jawahar Singh Wala and Bargari.
SIT chief’s reported on record statement with the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission poses serious questions about ‘intentions’ of both previous government led by Parkash Singh Badal and present government led by Capt. Amarinder Singh.
It shows that both governments tried not only to escape away from the issue but also made attempts to shield the culprits.
The SAD (B)-BJP government had even made attempts to put the blame of beadbi incidents on Sikhs by arresting two Sikh activists and launching propaganda campaign through a news channel affiliated to Badal family. The arrested Sikh activists were later released as government’s claims collapsed like tower of cards.
SIT chief’s reported statement also reveals that Capt. Amarinder Singh government also preferred it’s political calculations over exposing the culprits of beadbi of Guru Granth Sahib. If the SIT chief is to be believed that the case was cracked during SAD (B)-BJP tenure then Punjab government led by Capt. Amarinder Singh is also accused of snubbing the case for more than a year.
Capt. Amarinder Singh has announced to table Justice Ranjit Singh Commission’s report in Punjab Vidhan Sabha during next assembly session that is due in September.