DHARNA AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT TO BE HELD IN BEHBAL KALAN FROM OCTOBER 14: SUKHRAJ SINGH NIYAMIWALA
Face2News/Chandigarh
Raising questions over the prolonged delay in the Behbal Kalan firing case, the Behbal Kalan Insaf Morcha has alleged that despite nearly four and a half years having passed, the Punjab government has failed to take any concrete action in the matter.
Addressing a press conference held at the Chandigarh Press Club on Tuesday, Behbal Kalan firing victim Sukhraj Singh Niyamiwala said that the chargesheet in the Behbal Kalan firing case has still not been filed. He questioned the government over the lack of any concrete outcome despite repeated statements and assurances.
He said that the people of Punjab had hoped that after coming to power, the government would ensure justice in the cases related to sacrilege, Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura, and would provide justice to the victim families. However, people are now disappointed.
Niyamiwala warned that the Behbal Kalan Insaf Morcha would hold a dharna in Behbal Kalan from October 14 against the government. Satnam Singh was also present along with Niyamiwala.
Niyamiwala also raised questions regarding police officials who came under the ambit of the investigation. He alleged that a senior police officer, Pradeep Singh, who was associated with the case, was promoted to the post of DSP and later retired.
He questioned why the victim families were still waiting for justice when officials facing allegations in the case were allegedly promoted.
The Morcha also questioned the alleged provision of government security and vehicles to certain persons associated with sacrilege-related cases. The Morcha demanded that the Punjab government clarify its position on the matter and said that political considerations should not come in the way of the rule of law.
Referring to the 2022 Assembly elections, Niyamiwala said that several leaders and senior leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party, including Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, had prominently raised the issues of Behbal Kalan, Kotkapura and sacrilege before the elections. He questioned why, after coming to power, the government allegedly failed to fulfil its promise of delivering justice.
According to the statement, only around two months of the government’s term now remain, while the chargesheet in the Behbal Kalan firing case has still not been filed. Niyamiwala said that the delay was not merely an issue concerning the victim families, but was also affecting people’s faith in the justice system.
The Behbal Kalan Insaf Morcha appealed to Sikh organisations, social and religious institutions, organisations engaged in struggles, and the people of Punjab to unite and raise their voice for justice.
The demands of the Morcha include completion of the investigation into the Behbal Kalan firing incident, filing of the chargesheet without any further delay, bringing those responsible to justice, and providing justice to the victim families, including the families of Shaheed Bhai Krishan Bhagwan Singh and Gurjit Singh Sarawan.
He said, “Now, statements alone will not be enough. The government will have to answer when the martyrs of Behbal Kalan will get justice.”
