Two members of the Sikhs’ Nihang order surrendered to the police on Saturday in connection with the lynching of a man in Haryana the previous day. Lakhbir Singh, 35, was found tied on Friday morning to a police barricade at Singhu near the Delhi border. In videos posted to social media, a group of Nihangs was seen standing next to Lakhbir’s body, saying he had been “punished” for desecrating a holy book.
Police have so far arrested two Nihangs, Sarvjit Singh and Narain Singh, in the case. Sarvjit was remanded to seven- day police custody by a court in Sonipat on Saturday, while Narain was arrested in Amritsar district hours later. Talking to the media before his arrest, Narain said he was unrepentant and said Lakhbir had been “punished for sacrilege.”
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Late on Saturday, two more Nihangs, Bhagwant Singh and Govind Singh, surrendered to the police. Visuals showed the duo being accompanied by other Nihangs, with garlands around their necks.
On Saturday, around 15 Dalit outfits submitted a memorandum to the National Commission for Scheduled Caste demanding action against those involved in Lakhbir’s killing.
The commission on Friday asked the Haryana Police to take strict action against the accused and submit a preliminary report into the investigation.
Singhu lynching: Villagers say victim ‘lured’, police get custody of accused
Farmers have been camped in the area for over 10 months as part of an agitation against the three contentious farm laws passed by the Centre. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is spearheading the farmers’ protests across the nation, has distanced itself from the incident. SKM said nobody had the right to take law into their hands.
On Friday, 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.
