FARIDKOT, Punjab—On April 1, Justice Zora Singh recorded statements of 35 people in Faridkot as part of an investigation into the Behbal Kalan shootings, which claimed two lives. This occurred five days after the release of Justice Markanday Katju’s report about the Behbal Kalan shootings. The Punjab government is under immense pressure since the release of Katju’s report. Justice Zora Singh, who was appointed by Badal and the sole member of the judicial commission, has visited the Faridkot area three times since his appointment.
Among the 35 people that recorded their statements were victims and witnesses of the Behbal Klan shooting. Ajit Singh, a Granthi in Kotkapura, told Justice Zora Singh that bullets had entered his thighs. He told Justice Zora Singh that the Sikh activists who tried to take him to the hospital were brutally beaten by police.
On October 14 2015, the police had fired upon peacefully protesting Sikhs, killing two Sikh youth. The incident took place when Sikhs had gathered at the village to protest against the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Justice Zora Singh was appointed by the Punjab Government to investigate the killings. The Zora Singh Commission visited Faridkot and Moga in February 2015, asking the witnesses to come to Chandigarh with their affidavits.
Some of the witnesses identified police officers who they said kicked and abused protestors. They included Moga SSP Charanjit Sharma (suspended after the incident), SP Harjit Singh Pannu, SP Bikramjit Singh, Deputy SP Jagdish Bishnoi, Bajakhana SHO Amarjit Singh Kular, and Jaito SHO Dalbir Singh. Eye-witnesses also stated that SSP Sharma of Moga opened fire up to a distance of 20 feet and even kicked women protesters. SSP Sharma was transferred but never charged.
Wait and see – if anything comes of this but if appointed by the Badal clan – please do not expect anything to be done …..