Behbal Klan Tragedy: Badal was involved in ordering firing on protesting Sikhs

CHANDIGARH—Within a year of its constitution to unearth reality of sacrilege incidents occurred in Punjab during 2015, the Investigation Commission headed by Justice Ranjit Singh has exposed out that the then Punjab CM Parkash “Singh” Badal was fully aware of the circumstances in Kotakpura where the Sikhs were staging peaceful protest seeking justice in sacrilege incidents. The commission has also made it clear that Badal had issued some special instructions to the Kotakpura administration via DGP Sumedh Saini for handling the situation.

Justice Ranjit Singh has exposed out that he has come across several evidences indicating Badal’s direct communication with the Kotakpura’s administration few hours before the Police opened firing on peaceful protesting Sikhs on October 14, 2015. He has clarified that the CM office was contacted in midnight hours of October 13 & 14 before the police action on October 14, 2015 between 6 am to 7 am.

Justice Ranjit Singh has asserted that evidence had also surfaced that the then local MLA Mantar Singh Brar had spoken to Badal directly or through his secretary Gaggandip Brar. He, in turn, exchanged as many as 21 SMS messages with the Faridkot DC starting from 1.51 am on October 14 and Gaggandip Brar also spoke to Faridkot DC during this time. MLA Mantar Singh Brar and Gaggandip also spoke to each other four times between 2.28.55 am and 15.11.41 pm.

It is pertinent to note here that the Congress led Punjab government had last year appointed the Justice Ranjit Singh led Investigation Commission to probe sacrilege incidents occurred in Punjab during 2015. The Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh had annulled the earlier report submitted by Justice Zora Singh led Investigation Commission. Similarly, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) also claims of having rejected the Justice Ranjit Singh led investigation commission.