Chandigarh/Bathinda: Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal appeared before a Chandigarh court on Tuesday in connection with the 2015 Kotkapura police firing case. This development comes a month after the Punjab and Haryana high court ordered the transfer of the trial from Faridkot to Chandigarh. Former Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini participated in the proceedings through videoconferencing.
Formal Start of Proceedings
With this appearance, the proceedings in the case formally commenced in the Chandigarh district and sessions court. The sessions court has scheduled the next hearing for June 1, where the matter will be heard alongside the related Behbal Kalan police firing case.
Sukhbir's counsel, Arshdeep Singh Kler, stated that Badal and the other accused appeared before the court in compliance with the high court's directions following the transfer of the case.
Background of the Kotkapura Firing Case
The Kotkapura firing case pertains to police action on October 14, 2015, when protesters demonstrating against sacrilege incidents at Bargari and Burj Jawahar Singh Wala were allegedly fired upon by police in Kotkapura. During these events, protesters Krishan Bhagwan Singh and Gurjit Singh were killed in police firing at Behbal Kalan, while several others sustained injuries.
High Court's Order for Transfer
The Punjab and Haryana high court, on April 9, ordered the transfer of the Kotkapura-related First Information Reports (FIRs) to Chandigarh. The court observed that interconnected cases should be tried together at one location. The Behbal Kalan case had already been transferred from Faridkot to Chandigarh in May 2024.
The FIRs include charges under sections related to attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, destruction of public property, and provisions of the Arms Act. Several senior police officers, including former DGP Saini, are among the accused.
Earlier Stalled Proceedings
Earlier, proceedings in the Kotkapura case had been stalled for over 22 months after the transfer of the interconnected Behbal Kalan case. In July 2022, the high court had directed that both cases be heard simultaneously and decided in accordance with the law.
