Arrest Behbal Kalan firing accused cops or face protest: Dhian Singh Mand

JALANDHAR: After the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed the petition of police officers named in FIRs pertaining to Behbal Kalan firing, informal Sarbat Khalsa appointed acting jathedar of Akal Takht Dhian Singh Mand, who led the Bargari Morcha for over six months, said that the state government should immediately arrest the accused cops. In case of any delay, the government should be ready to face protest from Sikhs, he added. The police officers had moved HC seeking probe by CBI.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Mand said that any further delay by the state government in arresting the accused officers would cause big resentment in the community. Further programme for starting next phase of Bargari morcha would be discussed in the meeting called on January 27, at the behest of informal Sarbat Khalsa appointed Akal Takht jathedar Jagtar Singh Hawara.

Mand, who broke his silence over a month-and-a-half after lifting the of Bargari morcha on December 9, said that a wrong perception was created that the sit in did not achieve its objectives. He held that Bargari sacrilege case was solved only after the morcha was started and Sirsa Dera followers arrested; police officers were named in case of Behbal Kalan firing and work on release of Sikh prisoners started. He also said that it was due to the pressure of the morcha that report of Justice Ranjit Singh Commission was discussed in state assembly which completely exposed the Badals and Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Mand also said that a third alternative should be formed to fight against SAD-BJP and the Congress by the Punjab Democratic Alliance and other parties and he was ready to reach out to the leaders of these parties to bring them on table. He said that AAP and BSP should also become part of this alternative.