New Delhi: Saravjit Singh – a Sikh ‘warrior’ or Nihang who has claimed responsibility for the gruesome murder of a Dalit labourer at a farmers protest site in Haryana’s Singhu yesterday – has claimed “no regrets”.
Singh was produced at a local court today following his surrender yesterday and sent to seven days’ police custody; the authorities had argued for 14 days’ saying Sarvjit had given them information on four other suspects and that they had to recover the murder weapons.
An earlier video – from before his surrender – of him tightly flanked by other Nihangs – at least two of whom still carried swords – and surrounded by reporters has emerged, in which one reporter asks: “Do you feel repentance?”
To this Singh looks disinterested, waves the question away and shakes his head, and replies “No”.
Murder incident
A 35-year-old man was brutally murdered at the Singhu border outside Delhi. His body was found hanging from a barricade near the main stage of protesting farmers on Friday morning, with a chopped-off hand.
The incident has already caused a huge outrage among the farmers who were initially not allowing the police to visit. However, officials of the Kundli police station were later allowed to take the body to the nearby civil hospital.
“At about 5 am today [Friday], a body was found hanging with hands, legs chopped at the spot where farmers’ protest is underway [Kundli, Sonipat],” said DSP Hansraj as quoted by news agency ANI.
Adding that an FIR in connection with the murder has been registered against unknown persons, he said, “No information on who’s responsible. Viral video is a matter of probe, rumours will linger.”
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has distanced itself from the entire incident and said that it was ready to cooperate with the Haryana government for action against culprits.
SKM has also alleged that Nihangs murdered the 35-year-old whose one hand was cut from his wrist.
“Nihaangs behind the incident. They have accepted it. Nihaangs have been causing trouble to us from the beginning,” SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said.
Another video shows the man’s body strung upside down with a rope – his left hand covered in blood – and a pool of blood on the floor.
Reports say the Nihangs beat the young man – who has yet to be identified – to death for allegedly desecrating the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikhs’ holy book.
They reportedly beat him to death, hung the body on the police barricade and then cut off the wrist.
Last year there was another incident involving Nihangs – a Punjab cop had his hand chopped off with a sword in Patiala after he asked them to show them ‘movement passes’ during the Covid lockdown.Assistant Sub-Inspector Harjeet Singh recovered after extensive surgical procedures and has since been promoted. Three other cops who sustained injuries were awarded medals.
Farmers have gathered at Singhu (on the border with Delhi) for over a year now to protest the centre’s new farm laws; several farmer camps have been set up on the border over the past months.Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar was due to visit Sonipat this week to attend a public event.
However, after sustained protests from farmers (who have made it clear they will oppose any public appearance by any member of the ruling BJP), Mr Khattar withdrew and sent a replacement.
Farmers’ protests in Haryana have made major headlines since the agitation began, with violent clashes between protesters and police frequent. Scenes of encamped forces on both sides – divided by barricades, dug up roads and other materials used to block progress have been widely shared.
Tensions escalated in August when a top Karnal official was caught on camera ordering police to “crack their (farmers’) heads”. This was during a lathi charge that saw 10 farmers injured.
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