The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the 2015 sacrilege incidents and the subsequent Behbal Kalan police firing conducted a spot inspection at Burj Jawahar Singh Wala in Faridkot district on Thursday. The team, led by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harjit Singh, examined the location from which a swaroop (copy) of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib was stolen on June 1, 2015.
Spot inspection at Burj Jawahar Singh Wala
According to officials, the SIT team spent several hours at the village gathering evidence and recording statements from local residents. The theft of the Guru Granth Sahib swaroop from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala was the first in a series of sacrilege incidents that shook Punjab in 2015.
Next stops: Bargari and Behbal Kalan
After completing the inspection at Burj Jawahar Singh Wala, the SIT is scheduled to proceed to Bargari, where torn pages (ang) of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib were found scattered in village streets on October 12, 2015. This incident sparked widespread outrage across Punjab and led to massive protests. The team will then move to Behbal Kalan, the site where two Sikh protesters were killed after police opened fire on a crowd staging a dharna over the sacrilege on October 14, 2015.
Background of the case
The sacrilege incidents and the subsequent police firing at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan triggered prolonged protests and political turmoil in Punjab. Successive governments have faced pressure to bring the guilty to book. The SIT, formed to ensure a thorough investigation, is now conducting fresh spot inspections to gather ground-level evidence. DIG Harjit Singh stated, "The team is meticulously collecting all available evidence to ensure justice is served."
Political and social impact
The 2015 events remain a sensitive issue in Punjab, with various political parties and Sikh religious organizations demanding a fair probe. The SIT's renewed efforts are seen as a step toward resolving the long-standing demand for accountability. The inspections are expected to continue over the next few days as the team documents evidence at each location.
