A man was brutally lynched and strung up at the protest site on Friday morning, with a group of Nihang Sikhs who are part of the protesters, claiming responsibility for the killing in a video. The victim was identified as 35-year-old Lakhbir Singh, a resident of Cheema Kalan village in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district. The village sarpanch, Avan Kumar, and the local DSP, Sucha Singh, confirmed his identity.
The man was tied to an overturned police barricade, his wrist was chopped off and his ankle and leg broken. According to police, a preliminary probe suggests Nihang Sikhs a warrior group, allegedly killed him on suspicion of disrespecting the Sikh holy book.
Superintendent of Police, Sonepat, Jashandeep Singh Randhawa said: “The injured person was rushed to the civil hospital, where he was declared dead. We have registered a case of murder against unknown persons. There are several videos circulating where some Nihang Sikhs have claimed that the man disrespected the holy book. It is suspected he was beaten up and killed by some Nihang Sikhs. This is a matter of investigation.”
According to locals and the village sarpanch, Singh lived with his sister. His parents are no more. They said they last saw him in the village on Tuesday. DSP Sucha Singh said, “He was the only person from the village to go to Singhu.”
Later in the evening A Nihang, Saravjeet Singh, has surrendered to the police, taking responsibility for killing a man at Singhu border. Saravjeet Singh has been taken for medical by the police and will be produced before a court on Saturday.
