2015 Behbal Kalan firing: HC grants bail to two accused

CHANDIGARH:THE Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday granted bail to two persons, Pankaj Bansal, a Moga-based car dealer, and Sohail Singh Brar, in 2015 Behbal Kalan firing case.

While granting bail, the high court bench of justice Sant Parkash took note of the fact that three co-accused have already been granted bail and these two were in custody since June and not required for any custodial interrogation.

“It is a matter of debate whether the provisions of Sections 194 and 195 IPC (fabrication of evidence) are attracted or not qua the present petitioners. Admittedly, neither of them was present at the time of incident having taken place,” the bench observed. It further said that admittedly and evidently, after the three incidents of sacrilege, a mob of about 500/600 people had gathered at a public place.

“This fact cannot be denied that such a large mob would not remain silent when the protesters were having swords, barchhas etc., and had set ablaze three police vehicles. In order to control such a large mob, it was quite obvious and natural that the police authorities would also take some action to disperse the mob. It is further not disputed that two persons had died in the said incident but the whole blame of the incident cannot be fastened upon the police only,” the bench observed.

The FIR was registered on October 21, 2015, at Bajakhana in Faridkot for murder among other sections and later sections for fabrication of evidence were added.