FATEHGARH SAHIB – Former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju, who is probing the killing of two youths in police firing in Behbal Kalan, will also study the reasons behind farmers committing suicide.
Justice Katju was in town this week to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib.
He is probing the firing incident on the invitation of the Sikhs for Human Rights, the Punjab Human Rights Organisation and the Lawyers for Human Rights International.
Talking to the media, Justice Katju said that Punjab’s farmers were living in a miserable condition and were committing suicide due to economic distress.
He said that he would study the issue in detail and take it up with the government. He also blamed rising drug abuse, land and sand mafia for the problems in the state.
Panthic leader Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Behbal Kalan firing incident probe report would be made public in three weeks. He said the commission has sought cooperation of the state government and police to compile its report. Cheema said the statements of around 45 witnesses of the incident have already been recorded.
