Another Nihang held for Singhu murder

Tribune News Service

Advertisement

Amritsar, October 16

Day after the brutal killing of Lakhbir Singh, alias Neeta, by Nihangs at the Singhu border over alleged sacrilege, the Amritsar rural police today arrested Narain Singh, head of Misl Shaheed Baba Baj Singh Shiromani Panth Akali (Tarna Dal), for the murder.

Heavy police force was deployed at Rakh Devidass Pura village, from where he was arrested. The police surrounded the village to prevent him from escaping.

Unions holding nation to ransom: BJP

• State BJP chief Ashwani Sharma claims farmers’ unions and Opposition parties are holding nation to ransom to further their political agenda
• He alleges farmers’ leader Rakesh Tikait is fanning ‘anti-national sentiment’ and playing with fire by making ‘provocative speeches’
• “Singhu and Tikri borders have seen crimes such as murder, assault, loot, rape but every time union leaders distance themselves from such cases,” he says

The Haryana Police had yesterday arrested another Nihang, Sarabjit Singh of Misl Baba Himmat Singh, for the murder.

The police produced him before mediapersons, where Narain admitted to the crime but added he had no remorse. He said he chopped off Lakhbir’s ankle after several Nihangs approached him claiming he had committed sacrilege. He along with supporters then left for the Singhu border on October 14 and reached there around 5.30 am the next morning.

“When I reached the spot, someone had already chopped his hand off. In a fit of anger, I severed his leg. Half an hour later, he died,” he said.

“We have been hearing news of sacrilege but governments have failed to provide justice,” he said, while speaking to mediapersons.

Earlier, he said he would surrender after paying obeisance at Akal Takht. However, when the police got inputs he had reached his village, they sent teams there in civvies.

After confirming his presence at the village, more teams were rushed to his dera for arrest, said SSP Amritsar rural Rakesh Kaushal. A team of the Sonepat police was on its way to take his custody, he added.

On Friday, Lakhbir, allegedly a drug addict from Cheema Kalan village in Tarn Taran, was found tied to a barricade at the Delhi-Haryana border where the anti-farm law protesters had been camping.

His hand and a leg were chopped off and the body bore multiple wounds caused by sharp weapons. Soon after, videos of his barbaric murder went viral on the social media, leading to outrage.