Protest over ‘inaction’ in shepherd’s murder case

Our Correspondent
Fazilka, January 22

Members of the Bawaria Samaj Community under the banner of the All-India Bawaria Samaj Sangathan staged a protest outside the District Administrative Complex here on Tuesday, demanding arrest of the accused in the murder case of a shepherd.

State unit president of the sangathan Sarban Singh alleged that a 20-year-old shepherd, Kirpal Singh, belonging to their community was killed at Chahlanwali village of Fazilka district on November 10.

A case under Section 302 of the IPC was registered against unidentified persons. “The police failed to nab the culprits and instead tortured a 14-year-old boy belonging to the deceased family by keeping him in police custody for eight days,” alleged Sarban Singh.

He alleged that they informed the police about the identity of the accused, who is an Akali leader, but the police was hesitant to take action. They sought registration of a case under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act for torturing the minor. They warned that if their demands were not accepted, they would launch an agitation on February 6.