People’s Commission headed by Markandey Katju to probe Behbal Kalan police firing

Chandigarh: A Punjab-based NGO has decided to set up a committee in Punjab to “dig out” the truth behind the police firing at Behbal Kalan near Kotkapura in Faridkot district that resulted in killing of two Sikhs and many of them being injured. It is notably that Punjab police had opened fire on Sikh sangat who were holding a peaceful sit-in demonstration at a link road leading to Behbal Kalan village against repeated incidents of beadbi of Guru Granth Sahib.

The people’s commission will be headed by former Supreme Court judge, justice Markandey Katju. The commission which is to probe the alleged human rights abuses will be set up by Sikhs for Human Rights. The move is supported by Lawyers For Human Rights (LFHR) and Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO).

As per a news reported by Business Standard (BS) [t]he proposed commission will also look into whether the Punjab government acted as per law in arresting scores of protesting religious leaders and political dissidence under preventive measures and sedition laws in the aftermath of sacrilege incidents that rocked the state and saw people protesting en mass against the alleged “inefficient and inadequate response” by the state government to find out the culprits.

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Announcing the setting up of the commission PHRO chairman Justice (retd) Ajit Singh Bains, SFHR chairman Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema and Advocate Amar Singh Chahal and LFHR general seceratry Advocate Navkiran Singh alleged that Punjab government has “failed the people” of the state.

The setting up of the one-man committee led by Justice (retd) Jora Singh was an eye wash to cover up its own misdeeds, they claimed.

They said the state government has “lost its credibility” and trust by “refusing to prosecute” the erring cops responsible for Behbal Kalan police firing.

The commission will hold its sittings at Behbal Kalan from January 21 to 23 and it would be an open court where concerned people, eye witnesses and aggrieved families could register their statements, they said, adding, the committee would also write to state home secretary and the DGP to seek the version of the civil and police administration.

They said the name of the secretary to the commitee would be announced shortly.