In a significant development, the additional district and sessions judge, Rajeev Kumar Kalra, presided over a hearing on Friday concerning the Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing incidents. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) presented the status report of the Behbal Kalan firing case in court, leading to the adjournment of both cases’ hearings until January 20. Former SSP of Moga, Charanjit Singh Sharma, was present, while other accused individuals attended the hearing via video conferencing.
Following the status report, the district court will now commence a joint trial for both cases. Families of the victims expressed satisfaction and announced the end of the Insaaf Morcha ongoing in Behbal Kalan for the past two years.
Sukhraj Singh, a member of the victims’ families and the leader of the Insaaf Morcha, expressed his long-standing demand for the commencement of trials despite the submission of charge sheets, attributing the delay to various petitions. With the submission of the SIT’s status report and the dismissal of all petitions, the trial has finally begun. He stated their intent to pursue legal battles in court instead of protests, concluding the Insaaf Morcha in Behbal Kalan within the next couple of days after organizing a religious ceremony.
It’s noteworthy that charge sheets have been filed in both the Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing incidents, with both cases now under the jurisdiction of the district court. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the district court to conduct a joint hearing for both cases, which is set to commence shortly.
Most of the police officials have been charged in both cases. However, in the Behbal Kalan case, two individuals, Suhel Singh Brar and Pankaj Bansal, are also accused of aiding police officers. Similarly, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has been charged in the Kotkapura firing incident.