The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Bahibalkalan firing incident related to the 2015 Bargari sacrilege case has issued summons to the then Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal for questioning. SIT has directed him to appear in Chandigarh on July 20. In fact, in the year 2015, incidents of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji were reported in Burj Jawahar Singh Wala and Bargadi villages of Faridkot. In protest against this, Sikh organizations and local people started protesting demanding the arrest of the culprits.
According to reports, on October 14, 2015, the police had allegedly used force and opened fire while removing peaceful protestors from the main highway in Bahibalkalan. Two Sikh protesters, Gurjit Singh and Krishna Bhagwan Singh, were killed in this firing.
Sukhbir Badal summoned after Vijay Sampla’s statement
The decision to summon Sukhbir Singh Badal has been taken after the statement recorded by former Union Minister Vijay Sampla before the SIT. During his statement, Sampla reportedly refused to sign the memorandum which was presented to the Punjab Governor along with Sukhbir Singh Badal regarding the sacrilege incidents. After this development, the investigation team decided to seek further clarification from Badal regarding the circumstances related to the memorandum.
Earlier incidents are also being investigated
However, former Union Minister Sampla told the media after questioning last week that he had asked the police to show him the original copy of the memorandum so that he could confirm or deny his signature. Sources related to the investigation said that the SIT is also investigating the sequence of events before the police action against the protesters in October 2015. Earlier, former SAD MLA Mantar Singh Brar had reportedly told the SIT that before the police action against the protesters, discussions were held with the then Chief Minister, Home Minister and Director General of Police (DGP).
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