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Man’s mutilated body found at Singhu border

Suspect Sarvjeet (centre) surrenders before the police. Tribune photo

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Sonepat, October 15

The semi-naked body of a man, with left hand and foot severed, was found hanging from an overturned police barricade near the main stage of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) at the Singhu protest site on Friday morning. The deceased was identified as Lakhbir Singh (35) of Cheema Khurd village in Tarn Taran, Punjab. A Nihang, Sarvjeet, was arrested after he surrendered before the police. Purported video clips of the incident went viral on social media, one of them showing Nihangs standing near an injured Lakhbir, his severed hand tied close to his head, accusing him of desecrating the holy granth and asking him on whose behest he had done so.

Also read: Victim’s sister junks sacrilege charge

BJP blames Tikait

Had Tikait not justified lynching in Lakhimpur… the murder at Kundli wouldn’t have happened. Amit Malviya, BJP IT Cell Chief

Whoever is responsible for the act must be dealt with as per law. Pawan Khera, Congress

Police sources said Lakhbir was dragged for a few metres and then tied to the barricade with ropes. He is said to have bled to death. His neck and chest bore injury marks. In another video, some Nihangs are purportedly heard taking responsibility for the crime, claiming, “He (deceased) disrespected the holy book.”

Informed of the incident at 5.30 am, Kundli SHO Inspector Ravi Kumar rushed to the spot. He was prevented by protesters from taking away the body. It was after over four hours of persuasion that the protesters relented. ADGP Sandeep Khirwar said a murder case had been filed against unidentified persons. “A forensic team visited the spot. We have collected evidence. A few suspects are on the radar.”

The SKM condemned the killing. At a press conference, SKM leaders said the Nihangs and the deceased had nothing to do with the Morcha. They demanded that the culprits be punished as per the law after probing the “conspiracy behind the sacrilege.”