:dateline:Justice Katju commission on Saturday started probe into the incident of Behbal Kalan during which the Police opened fire at unarmed Sikh Sangat who were demonstrating peacefully against sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib that happened at Bargari village. The firing had caused death to�two Sikh youth.
Former judge of Supreme Court Justice Markandey Katju who is chairman of the commission, paid visit to village Behbal Kalan for the probe. Other members of the commission including Advocate Amar Singh Chahal, Advocate Rajwinder Singh Bains, Advocate Navkiran Singh, advocate Harpal Singh Cheema and former Punjab DGP Shashi Kant IPS (retd) as well as Dal Khalsa�s spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh too accompanied him.
In view of Punjab government�s inaction against the culprits, the commission has been constituted by various Punjab based human rights organizations to hold independent and transparent probe.
On Saturday, Justice Katju reached the village at around 2 pm and along with other members of the commission, he visited the spot where the Police opened fire and killed Bhai Gurjit Singh and Bhai Krishan Bhagwan Singg. They stayed there for around one and half an hour and collected first hand information from the villagers.
Today, the commission again�recorded statements of eyewitnesses and those who having�knowledge about the episode. Representatives of Sikhs for Human Rights, Punjab Human Rights Organization and Lawyers for Human Rights International were also present on the occasion. �
For now, the commission will only investigate Behbal Kalan episode, but if there would be any connection of this episode with atrocities committed by the Police at Kotakpura, the investigation could also be extended to that incident, revealed by Advocate Cheema who added that if the Police wanted to present its side, it would be welcomed.
It is notable that Punjab government has not taken any action against the accused of these killings. It constituted Justice Jora Singh commission to probe into the incident but investigation process of this commission is in initial stage.
Also, the government had claimed the registration of a case of murder against the erring police officials, who had opened fire on October 14 in the village, yet the case seems to be only an eyewash as, besides being obscure, it does not mention the name of any accused.
The FIR was registered against unidentified persons under sections 302, 307, 34 IPC besides the Arms Act on the complaint of Iqbalpreet Singh Sahota, director, Bureau of Investigation, on October 21, but it�does not mention the name of any accused or raises finger on any police official.
Perhaps Sikhs can demonstrate once more why they have always been the tip of the pioneering spearhead in Indian freedom by actually making a public commission inquiry be honest enough to hold police and Sarkari politicians to be culpable for their crimes against their own citizens. But then the police will most likely refuse to arrest any of their own and the judiciary will probably refuse to hear the indictments just as they have the confession of a mass murdering policeman Pinky. Good thing we have the totally ‘honourable’ Badals in charge to make sure justice is served, eh, Harinder? Yeah and monkeys will fly.