Punjab CM to build memorial for Behbal Kalan, Kotkapura firing victims

On October 15, 2015, two people were killed and several others injured in Behbal Kalan village when police resorted to unprovoked firing on hundreds of people protesting the alleged desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib in Faridkot's Bargari village. Punjab CM Amarinder Singh said that they would build a memorial for the victims.

Faridkot (Punjab): Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday announced a memorial in Bargari area for those who lost their lives or were injured in the 2015 Behbal Kalan and the Kotkapura firing incidents. He said a committee of local residents would also be formed to decide on the kind of memorial that needs to be built.

Two people were killed and several others were injured in the Behbal Kalan village on October 15, 2015, when police resorted to unprovoked firing on hundreds of people protesting the alleged desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari village in Faridkot. In another incident that took place on October 14, police used force to disperse agitators in Kotkapura village which led to a clash leaving 40 cops injured.

Addressing an election rally in Faridkot Lok Sabha seat with Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, the Chief Minister ridiculed Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Parkash Singh Badal's comment wherein he claimed that the Bargari and other sacrilege cases are a thing of the past.

"The people have never and will never forget the desecration of their holy scriptures, and the Akali supremo should be ashamed of even suggesting the same," said Singh.

He further pointed out that the Sikhs had not forgotten, in 500 years, the sacrifice made by any member of their community and added that it was shameful that Badal had not realised this stark truth even at the age of 93.

"How can anyone forget what happened during the rule of the Badals? Not one or two but 58 Sri Guru Granth Sahibs were desecrated, not to count the Gutka Sahibs, Bhagavad Gita, the Bible, and the Quran which were burnt or torn," he said.

"What happened at Bargari, and in other incidents, where the police resorted to open firing on peaceful protestors against sacrilege, right under the nose of Badal, is not something that Punjab can ever forget," said Singh.

Referring to the Behbal Kalan tragedy, the Chief Minister recalled being told by the victims of the incident about how the Superintendent of Police suddenly ordered the firing and cops gunned down people who tried to flee.

"This is not the way such incidents are handled," he said, adding that if firing is needed at all, it is done by a small police unit, accompanied by a Magistrate who assesses the situation and asks for a single shot to be fired at one individual only on apprehending trouble.

The Chief Minister was campaigning in support of Congress' Faridkot candidate Mohammad Sadique.

The voting for all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will take place during the last phase of seven-phased general elections on May 19.

The counting of votes will take place on May 23.