Farmers Movement Archive

Singhu killing: Punish culprits, says SKM

BATHINDA: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Friday condemned the killing of a farmer at Singhu border protest site and demanded that the culprits be punished as per law after investigation. Nevertheless, it also tried to disassociate itself from the deceased and Nihang group which has claimed responsibility for the murder, saying they had no relation with the farm front. “The Morcha is against sacrilege of any religious text or symbol, but that does not give anyone the right to take the law into their own hands. We demand that the culprits be punished according to law after investigating the allegation of murder and conspiracy behind sacrilege,” said the SKM in a statement, issued by its top leaders. Lakhbir Singh (35) from Cheema Kalan village in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, was lynched at the Singhu border on Friday morning. A Nihang group at the scene has claimed responsibility, saying that the incident took place because of the deceased’s attempt to commit sacrilege with regard to the ‘Sarbaloh Granth’. It was also said that the deceased had been staying with the same group of Nihangs for some days. Speaking to media persons on Friday, farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said, “We have no connection with any of the parties as farmers are here only to fight against the three central farm laws. It seems to be a deep-rooted conspiracy, hatched by central agencies, and needs to be investigated thoroughly. If there was any act of sacrilege, it is condemnable. But the manner in which the man has been killed is highly condemnable. We want the government to hold investigation to expose the guilty as we have heard that 20 persons have been paid Rs 30,000 each and sent to farm protest sites to cause disturbances.” About the presence of Nihangs at farm protests, he said as farmers have different ideologies, people from different faiths — Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Nihangs — have joined their protests. “Hindus brought here kanwar yatra and farmers welcomed them; Muslims broke their rozas (fast) here and so are Nihangs sitting here,” he said. Asked about holding talks with Nihangs, another farm leader Ruldu Singh Mansa said like farmers, they (Nihangs) also have organisations. “Let it come out which organisation these persons belong to and it will be done,” he said. To a pointed query on why the victim was not provided any medical aid or taken to hospital, Dallewal said, “Everything is being investigated. The Nihangs claimed that it was a sacrilege issue, so the volunteers were dissuaded (from helping the victim)... now CCTV footage will be collected to ascertain whether claims made by Nihangs are true or not.” Asked whether Nihangs would be asked to vacate the place, Dallewal said discussions will be held with Sikh and Nihang organisations in the coming days and decision taken thereafter. In a video message, one of the SKM leaders Yogendra Yadav of Swaraj India claimed that the Nihang group had been at the protest site despite the farmers leaders’ request to them to leave it on the ground that the place was meant for only farmers’ movement and not for any religious movement.

The Times of India

2021-10-16

Amritsar