Behbal Kalan firing case: Victim’s kin slam state govt after SC rejects plea to shift trial back to Faridkot

Sukhraj Singh Niamiwala, a prominent leader of Behbal Kalan Insaf Morcha and family member of one of the victims of the 2015 Behbal Kalan police firing incident, has strongly criticised the Punjab Government for its mishandling of the case. Addressing a press conference in Faridkot on Saturday, Niamiwala expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court’s recent rejection of the state government’s plea to shift the trial from Chandigarh back to Faridkot.

He alleged that the AAP government failed to pursue the case effectively in the apex court. “The government had already failed earlier when the case was transferred from Faridkot to Chandigarh. Now, their plea to bring it back has also been dismissed due to poor legal representation,” Niamiwala said.

Criticising both the current and previous governments, he stated that despite forming governments on the promise of justice in the sacrilege and subsequent police firing cases, no serious action has been taken. “Two governments came to power by raising the issues of Bargari sacrilege and the Behbal Kalan firing, yet the victims are still waiting for justice,” he added.

Slamming the AAP government, he remarked that despite tall promises before coming to power, the administration has failed to take meaningful action on sacrilege and firing-related cases during its three-year tenure. “Even the investigation into the Behbal Kalan firing has not been completed, and no final chargesheet has been filed as promised,” he said.

Niamiwala demanded that the Punjab Government must now take the Chandigarh-transferred cases seriously and ensure proper prosecution so that the culprits are punished.

He also alleged that police officers involved in the firing have been rewarded instead of being held accountable. “Some of these officers have been promoted and even posted again in the Faridkot district. Their role in the firing was evident, yet the investigation remains incomplete,” he said.

The Behbal Kalan firing case, linked to the 2015 incidents of sacrilege and police action that led to civilian deaths, remains one of Punjab’s most sensitive and politically charged legal matters.

Punjab