Faridkot/ Chandigarh: Two Sikhs killed in Punjab police firing at village Behbal Kalan have been identified as Gurjit Singh (youth) of village Saravan and Krishan Avtar Singh (mid-aged) of village Nimami Wala. As per information police fired more than two hundred shots on peacefully protesting Sikhs, who were demanding arrest of persons responsible for sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in Bariari village.

Notably the police had opened fire on Sikh sangat at Kotkapura this morning in which dozens of Sikhs sustained injuries, while one persons named Ajit Singh of Bathinda district was hit by a bullet on lower part of his body. Few hours after this incident the police opened on Sikh sangat at village Behbal Kalan and killed Gurjit Singh and Krishan Bhagwan Singh.

Police action is condemned by cross sections of the society. Sikh organizations, including Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), United Akali Dal (UAD), Dal Khalsa, Akali Dal Panch Pardhani, Akhand Kirtani Jatha and various Sikh youth bodies accused Badal government for unleashing state-repression on peacefully protesting Sikhs.

Various political parties, including BJP (govt. ally), Congress and Aam Aadmi Party have termed the Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan incidents as unfortunate. Opposition parties have said that the Badal Government’s failure to arrest persons responsible for sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib was responsible for this incident.