Farmers Movement Archive

Day on, Singhu border lynching victim’s cremation sans Sikh rites

CHEEMA KALAN: After the lynching of the Tarn Taran farm labourer near the Singhu border for alleged desecration of the Sikh holy book, religious bodies opposed his cremation as per the Sikh rehat maryada (Sikh code of religious living). Lakhbir Singh, also known as Titu, was cremated at his native village Cheema Kalan in police presence late on Saturday evening, without any ‘’ardas” in the absence of the panchayat by his family members. In absence of lighting at the cremation ground, a few local youths came forward and arranged a light while a few others switched on torches of their mobile phones for the cremation. Lakhbir’s widow Jaspreet Kaur attempted to see his face several times but no one dared to remove the plastic covering the body. Earlier, Tarlochan Singh, president of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee, Kasel, Taran Taran district had made it clear that they would not allow the murder victim’s cremation as per religious rites. “We will not allow the family of Titu to cremate him as per the Sikh rehat maryada. His cremation will take place in the village, but his last rites will not be allowed to be performed in the Sikh tradition,” he said and added the decision was taken following a ‘gurmata’ passed by the committee after holding a meeting in the village. Echoing this view, village sarpanch Manish Kumar said, “We totally agree with the decision taken by the Satkar committee and denounce the alleged desecration by Titu.” He said they would do everything to maintain communal harmony. Justifying the decision of Tarlochan Singh, president of Amritsar-based Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee Balbir Singh Muchhal said, “There’s no way we can allow ardas, path or akhand path for a person allegedly responsible for sacrilege of our living guru.” He said that they could not allow the cremation of a person with the recital of gurbani as he was responsible for showing disrespect to the gurbani. When asked how Lakhbir’s family would conduct his last rites under these circumstances, he said they could either burn his body, throw it in the river or bury it. He added that neither the village panchayat nor responsible village elders would attend the cremation.

The Times of India

2021-10-17

Chandigarh