Police Probe Not Proper in Some Beadbi cases: says Justice (Retd.) Ranjit Singh

Bathinda: Justice Ranjit Singh, head of a one-man commission probing Beadbi incidents, on Tuesday said the police did not conduct a thorough probe into some of the cases.

Talking to media-persons on Tuesday (May 29) on the first day of his two days visit to investigate cases of Beadbi of Guru Granth Sahib in Bathinda and Mansa districts, he said the commission has shared its view with the police department and asked for further probe in these cases from other angles also.

A news report in Hindustan Times (HT) notes that Justice Ranjit Singh told reporters that the panel will mention its view in its report to the state government on the possible motives behind intentional desecrations.

According to information shared by Department of Public Relations (DPRO) Bathinda the commission’s investigation is almost complete. HT notes that Justice Ranjit Singh is “hopeful of submitting report to state government within two months”. Notably, commission was appointed in April 2017 and it was to submit the report with in 6 months.

BACKGROUND:

Bargari Beadbi Incident: A saroop of Guru Granth Sahib was stolen from village Burj Jawahar Singh Wala on June 01, 2015. After which some posters were pasted in that village challenging Sikhs to find the stolen Saroops. On October 12, 2015 Beadbi of Guru Granth Sahib was committed in Bargari village and it is believed that the culprits committed beadbi of Saroop that was stolen from village Burj Jawahar Singh Wala.

Police Firing at Behbal Kalan:

On October 15, 2015 the Punjab police had opened fire Sikh sangat staging a sit-in on a local road leading to Behbal Kalan village on Kotkapura-Bathinda road. Two Sikhs namely Bhai Gurjeet Singh of Sarawan village and Bhai Krishan Bhagwan Singh of Niamiwala village were killed in this firing while several other Sikhs were injured. The Sikh protesters were demanding action against culprits of Beadbi of Guru Granth Sahib at Bargari.

Justice Zora Singh Commission:

The then Punjab government led Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and BJP government had formed a commission led by Justice Zora Singh to probe the incident. The commission had submitted its report on July 2016 but it failed to find the culprits of Beadbi incident at Bargari or those responsible for police firing at Behbal Kalan village.

Justice Ranjit Singh Commission:

After assuming power in Punjab, the Congress party government led by Capt. Amarinder Singh announced to scrap the report submitted by Justice Zora Singh and announced to form another commission led by Justice Ranjit Singh. The commission was appointed in April 2017 and it was required to submit its report with in six month but the commission is yet to submit its report even after one year.

People’s Commission Led by Justice Markandey Katju:

Various human rights groups of Punjab had formed a ‘people’s commission’ led by former Supreme Court of India (SCI) judge Markandey Katju. Justice Katju commission had held the high-ups in Punjab police as responsible for the police firing at Behbal Kalan. But People’s Commission’s report was neither recognised by the SAD (Badal) government nor by Capt. Amarinder Singh led Congress government.

EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNTS:

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