Rohtak : A Nihang Sikh surrendered to Punjab Police on Saturday in the case related to the killing of a farm labourer near the farmers’ protest site at the Singhu border on Friday, becoming the second to be arrested for the grisly murder. Narayan Singh of Rakh Devidaspura village in Amritsar district confessed to the cops that he had chopped off the leg of Lakhbir Singh and that he wasn’t remorseful about what he had done.
Lakhbir was brutally attacked after he allegedly desecrated a Sikh holy book on Friday. His body was discovered bound to a police barricade near the Singhu border. Another Nihang Sikh, Sarabjeet Singh, arrested on Friday, had admitted to chopping off Lakhbir’s wrist. While presenting him at a Sonipat court on Saturday, the cops submitted that the accused had revealed the names of four people from Punjab involved in the killing.
Both Narayan and Sarabjeet were seen in police custody with garlands around their neck, their horrific acts evoking admiration among staunch Nihang Sikhs. Sonipat DSP Virender Singh said that Sarajbeet had been remanded in police custody for seven days. While police had recovered one sword, they were yet to retrieve the weapon used in the killing.
On Saturday morning, following reports that Narayan Singh would surrender to police in Amritsar, policemen laid siege to Rakh Devidaspura village to apprehend him. Given the religious sensitivities surrounding the case, SSP Kaushal said care was taken when cornering Narayan in his village. Learning of the huge police presence, the Nihang Sikh apparently tried to hide. The SSP said that Narayan, however, ran out of options and so went to the local gurdwara at 4pm to pray and to announce his surrender through its public address system.
Narayan told the media that he reached Delhi on October 15 at 5:35 am. He found a group of people having a heated debate, so he stopped his car and asked what the matter was and was informed about the alleged sacrilege. The Nihang Sikh claimed that he first enquired whether Lakhbir was still alive. Learning he was, he drew this sword and hacked the labourer’s leg with three strokes. Others hanged his body on the police barricade Narayan said the victim was alive for 30-45 minutes after the attack.
“I have no remorse, Narayan declared “Sri Guru Granth Sahib is revered by the people of all religions, including Hindu, Muslims and Buddhists,” he said, adding that he wasn’t running away from the law and had given himself in.
When asked how he was sure that Lakhbir was responsible for the act of sacrilege, Narayan claimed he was seen running away with the two saroops (copies) of the holy book by 200-400 people. A Nihang Sikh caught him and chopped off his hand, he said. Narayan Singh will be handed over to Haryana police for further investigations.
Meanwhile, the postmortem report of Lakhbir revealed that he had died due to excessive bleeding. According to a police officer, the labourer’s body, including his legs, showed 35 to 40 injuries caused by sharp and blunt objects The officer said, “The investigation also revealed that he was first dragged for a distance and then beaten up.
Jashandeep Singh Randhawa, superintendent of police, Sonipat, said that the cops were ascertaining whether Sarabjeet, who had claimed to have severed Lakhbir’s hand, had any criminal history. “So far, we haven’t found any previous involvement in crime. But the inquiry is going on,” he said. While pursuing other people involved in the incident, police are also likely to interact with leaders of the protesting farmers about the incident.
Meanwhile, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) demanded an investigation into the incident, alleging a conspiracy to sabotage the movement through religious disharmony “Media reports from the victim’s village and family indicate he was secretively receiving mysterious phone calls,” one SKM leader said. “Lakhbir Singh is supposed to have told his sister that his reach had increased now.”
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