CHANDIGARH, Punjab—Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab government today annulled the Justice Zora Singh commission’s report on Behbal Klan tragedy. Instead, the Punjab government is deciding to appoint a new commission to re-probe the tragedy that claimed lives of two innocent youths in an unprovoked firing by Punjab police cops.
It is noteworthy here that Shaheed Bhai Krishan Bhagwan Singh and Shaheed Bhai Gurjit Singh were killed in October 2015 in an unprovoked firing opened by Punjab police cops when they were peacefully protesting against the police’s failure to nab culprits responsible for the theft of Holy Scripture of Sri Guru Granth Sahib from village Burj Jawahar Singh Wala in June 2015.
The move has come just a few days after the Punjab & Haryana High Court has sought the reason from Punjab government for not imposing the recommendations made by Justice Zora Singh in its report. Justice MMS Bedi led High Court bench has sought answer from Punjab government before May 10 while processing the petition moved by kin of martyred Sikhs of Behbal Klan tragedy.
Justice Zora Singh led one member investigation commission was appointed by the Shiromani Akali Dal led Punjab government in 2015. In its report, the commission had recommended compensation worth Rs. 250,000 plus a government job to one of the family members of martyred Sikhs besides indictment of the then SSP Charanjit Sharma under murder charges. The Zora Singh commission had also recommended constitution of a ‘Claim Tribunal’ to provide compensations to the owners of property destroyed by miscreants during upsurge after serial desecration incidents in October 2015.
Although Justice Zora Singh commission had to face propaganda by some so called ‘Panthik’ leaders but he had explained the killings of Shaheed Bhai Krishan Bhagwan Singh and Shaheed Bhai Gurjit Singh. He had written in the report that the duo were shot with riffle in sitting position and the shooter was standing on a distance of less than one yard.
While the Punjab government’s move is being hailed by a particular section of Sikhs in hope of a better justice but a majority is watching it as an attempt of Punjab government to delay justice to victims.
Full report by the Justice Zora Singh led Investigation commission appointed by the former Punjab government will presented shortly in PDF version for the Sikh24 audience.
