Seven days after making a personal representation to the CEO Punjab, Sukhraj Singh, son of martyr Krishan Bhagwan Singh and Sadhu Singh father of martyr Gurjeet Singh addressed media in Bhatinda and released a fresh letter sent by the Behbal Kalan victim families to the CEC seeking reinstatement of IG Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh to the SIT to continue incomplete investigation.

Led by the victim families, the Punjab government and many political and Panthic organisations have complained to the ECI to look into the matter of transferring the key investigator from the SIT, but so far the ECI has not acted on the complaints.

Speaking to the World Sikh News, Sukhraj Singh said, “The Election Commission is testing our patience. We will do whatever the families can do and oppose this wrong decision. It is disgusting that the Election Commission has not responded in any manner to our complaint and representation submitted on 11 April 2019.”

Bathinda based advocate Harpal Singh Khara addressing the media with the victim families said, “In the absence of Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, the SIT is likely to present a ‘manipulated’ charge sheet against the accused senior police officers on or before April 27 in the Faridkot court hearing the matter. Media leaks and reports are already pointing in this direction.”

No rule or procedure of any government or the model code of conduct is more important than the lives of individuals. We have lost our dear ones and it is our prayer that the investigation in the case was going in the right direction under IG Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh. The Election Commission must immediately reinstate him so that he can intervene and put the investigation and the pursuit of justice on the right track.”

Sukhraj Singh, son of martyr Krishan Bhagwan Singh

The letter written by the victim families to the ECI states, “We are deeply concerned that with the chief investigator Inspector General Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh sidelined by the ECI on a frivolous complaint of the Shiromani Akali Dal, the Special Investigation Team will not present a thorough charge sheet against the accused and that would be a travesty of justice in a case which has engaged the whole population of Punjab and already moves are afoot to start a public agitation on the issue.”

With the Bargari Morcha announcing a public protest on 20 April, the Election Commission has still not understood that this is a very sensitive issue. Sikhs in Punjab are deeply concerned about the incidents of sacrilege that happened two years ago leading to the protests in which two Sikhs were killed.

Advocate Harpal Singh Khara added that, “Blanket bails have been obtained by top police accused including former DGP Sumedh Saini, suspended IG P S Umranangal and former MLA Mantar Singh Brar. If these and other police and administrative officials are allowed to escape rule of law through a weak and incomplete charge sheet, the blame will be on the shoulders of the Election Commission of India.”

On the other hand, the Shiromani Akali Dal is touting Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh’s removal as its victory, with Parkash Singh Badal even stating, “If he is not there so what, there are others to do the SIT work.” What he is not telling the people is that at this juncture if Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh is not reinstated, a weak charge sheet will save senior police officers and politicians involved in the Behbal Kalan killings.

An angry Sukhraj Singh said, “No rule or procedure of any government or the model code of conduct is more important than the lives of individuals. We have lost our dear ones and it is our prayer that the investigation in the case was going in the right direction under IG Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh. The Election Commission must immediately reinstate him so that he can intervene and put the investigation and the pursuit of justice on the right track.”