Saravjit Singh, one of the ‘Nihangs’ arrested for lynching a man to death at the farmers’ protest site in Haryana, has said he has “no regrets” over the incident. Lakhbir Singh, 35, was found tied on Friday morning to a police barricade at Singhu near the Delhi border, where farmers have been protesting for over 10 months against the three contentious farm laws passed by the Centre. Videos posted to social media show a group of Nihang (a ‘warrior’ sect of Sikhs) standing next to Lakhbir’s body, and blaming him for desecrating a holy book.
Saravjit was arrested on Saturday and produced before a local court after he surrendered to the police last night. He has been sent to seven days’ police custody. Saravjit has identified four more people allegedly involved in the case, Sonipat’s Deputy Superintendent of Police, Virender Singh told news agency PTI.
Who are the Nihangs? Sikh sect in spotlight after Singhu murder
“We have to make some recoveries from the arrested accused including the weapon used in the crime and the clothes he was wearing,” he said.
Residents of Cheema Khurd, Lakhbir’s village in Taran Taran district, have said he could not have carried out the alleged desecration
A video shot before his surrender showed Saravjit being flanked by other Nihangs. When asked by a reporter if he felt any regret over the lynching, Saravjit shakes his head, and replies “No.”
Singhu lynching: Villagers say victim ‘lured’, police get custody of accused
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is spearheading farmers’ protests at Singhu, has distanced itself from the incident. SKM said while it abhorred sacrilege, nobody had the right to take law into their hands.
Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar discussed the incident during a high-level meeting in Chandigarh with Home Minister Anil Vij and the state’s police chief.
The National Commission for Scheduled Caste Friday asked the Haryana Police to submit a preliminary report into case after around 15 Dalit outfits submitted a memorandum demanding strict action against the accused.
