Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal is not appearing before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Friday in connection with the Behbal Kalan firing case. He had been summoned to appear at the SIT headquarters in Chandigarh at 11 am, but had not reached the office so far.
His lawyers and senior party leaders, Advocate Arshdeep Singh Kaler and Bunti Romana, reached the Police Institute in Sector 32 at around 10:45 am.
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party leader Ranbir Singh Dhillon addressed a press conference and claimed that Sukhbir Badal was deliberately not appearing before the SIT. Dhillon alleged that an understanding was being reached between the BJP and the Akali Dal and claimed that the BJP had advised Badal not to appear, assuring him of political protection.
Behbal Kalan firing took place on October 14, 2015, during protests by Sikh devotees against the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in Faridkot. Police firing on protesters resulted in the deaths of two demonstrators, Krishan Bhagwan Singh and Gurjit Singh.
At the time, Punjab was governed by the SAD-BJP alliance, with Parkash Singh Badal as Chief Minister and Sukhbir Singh Badal serving as Deputy Chief Minister and holding the Home portfolio.
Several inquiry commissions and SITs have been constituted over the years to investigate the incident. The Justice Zora Singh Commission and Justice Ranjit Singh Commission were among the key panels. During the investigations, the roles of former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini, former IG Paramraj Singh Umranangal, Sukhbir Singh Badal and several other police officers and political leaders came under scrutiny.
SIT headed by IG Harjit Singh has intensified the investigation in 2026. In June, former Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh recorded his statement before the SIT. In July, the team visited the sites at Burj Jawahar Singh Wala and Behbal Kalan. BJP leader and former Union Minister Vijay Sampla also appeared before the SIT on September 3.
