Tarn Taran man lynched by Nihangs in Singhu, one held
ROHTAK/NEW DELHI: Members of Nihang community allegedly killed a 32-year-old farm labourer, hacked off his left arm, and tied his body to a metal barricade near the Singhu farm protest site on the outskirts of the Capital in the early hours of Friday, police said.
Sonepat Police said Nihangs, a Sikh order distinguished by their blue robes and swords, targeted the man for allegedly desecrating the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book. The family of the deceased man, however, denied that he could have committed sacrilege.
The victim was identified as Lakhbir Singh, a Dalit farm labourer from Punjab’s Tarn Taran district. A purported video clip of the incident -- which happened at Kundli on the Delhiharyana border -- went viral on social media.
“We have registered a case under sections 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. The forensic team has examined the scene of the crime,” Rohtak additional director general of police, Sandeep Khirwar.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella body of 43 unions coordinating the 11-month-long protest against three central agriculture laws, said a group of Nihangs claimed responsibility for the brutal killing after the man allegedly tried to desecrate the holy book.
“Both the parties to the incident, the Nihang group and the deceased person, have no relation with the Morcha. As always, the SKM will cooperate with the police and the administration in any lawful action,” the group said in a statement, adding that the peaceful farm movement was opposed to any violence.
A senior Sonepat police official said the accused, Saravjeet, surrendered before a team led by DSP Virender Rao visited the ‘Nihangs camp’.
“He will be presented before the local court on Saturday. He had surrendered after his video of claiming responsibility of the lynching went viral on social media platforms,” the official added. The victim’s post-mortem has been conducted and an autopsy report is awaited, said Kundli Station House Officer (SHO) Ravi Kumar.
Haryana Police said the body was found tied to a metal barricade near the Singhu protest site stage.