2021 Singhu border lynching

Singhu Border Beadbi 2021
2021 Singhu border lynching (Delhi)
Location	Singhu, Delhi, India
Coordinates	28.85°N 77.12°E / 28.85; 77.12
Date	15 October 2021 (2021-10-15)
Attack type	Justice
Deaths	1
Perpetrators	4 arrested (Nihang group members)
Motive	Desecration of Sri Sarbloh Granth Sahib

The Singhu Border Beadbi 2021[1] refers to the incident that occurred in the early hours of 15 October 2021 at Delhi's Singhu border, resulting in the death of Lakhbir Singh,[2] from Tarn Taran district of Punjab, India.[3][4] Lakhbir Singh had arrived at the camp of the Nihang Singhs at the Kisan Morcha and proceed to throw a copy of Sri Sarbloh Granth on the floor amongst other acts of desecration. Lakhbir Singh admitted to receiving a phone call instructing him to carry out the actions in return for a monetary reward. The killing began with the victim's hand and a leg being chopped off, and later his body was hanged on a barricade near the farmers’ protest site.[1] A Nihang Sikh[5] group took responsibility for the killing after the man committed sacrilege of their holy scripture.[6] A Nihang accepted his role in the murder, and gave arrest on the same day. The second accused, who also belongs to the Nihang group, was arrested by the Amritsar police.[6]

After being taken into the police custody, the second accused claimed that he had too given arrest before the police.[6] Meanwhile, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) distanced itself from the desecration and subsequent killing of the man, and agreed to cooperate with the police in the investigation.[7] The Bhim Army extended financial support for the family of the victim and demanded an impartial probe from the CBI.[8] In addition, 15 Dalit organizations have also called for strict action against the culprits in the killing of Lakhbir Singh at the Singhu border after portraying the situation as the targeting of a Dalit.[9][10]

Meanwhile, the victim's family has complained to the "National Commission for Scheduled Castes" about the lack of support from the Punjab state government.[11]

Background

On night of 14 October 2021, a dalit Sikh labourer, Lakhbir Singh from Cheema Khurd village of Tarn Taran district was lynched by Nihang Sikhs present at farmers' protest site on the allegations of sacrilege[12] by his picking up the copy of a Sarbloh Granth.[13][14] Family members of Lakhbir denied his role in alleged sacrilege.[15]

Village residents told The Caravan that they had first seen main accused Nihang Sarabjit Singh in the village about three months earlier, near the Sarai Amanat Khan police station. Several other villagers had seen Sarabjit in Cheema Kalan on several occasions driving a Bolero Camper car close to a langar hall being built near the village's bus stand. On 12 October Lakhbir was seen leaving the market when one man on a bike picked up Lakhbir from the nearby cremation ground crossing and handed him over to two Nihangs.[16]

See also

• 2021 Lynchings for sacrilege in Punjab
• Lynching of Jagmael Singh

References

1. "At Singhu protest site, man tied to barricade, arm chopped off and lynched; police probe role of Nihang Sikhs". The Indian Express. 16 October 2021. Archived from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
2. "Singhu border lynching: Three more arrested; victim's family demands high-level probe". Tribune India. 16 October 2021. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
3. "Lakhbir Singh cremated — kin present, most villagers not". The Indian Express. 17 October 2021. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
4. Pandey, Tanushree (16 October 2021). "'He didn't go out alone, only had Rs 100': Lynched Sikh's kin in Punjab find Singhu trip 'fishy'". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021.
5. Anshuman, Kumar (16 October 2021). "Murder at Singhu border puts farmer unions in spot". economic times. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
6. "Nihang Baba Narain Singh surrenders to killing of man with severed arm at Singhu border". Hindustan Times. 16 October 2021.
7. "Extremely sad, shameful: BSP Chief Mayawati on Singhu border lynching". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
8. Singh, Surjit (20 October 2021). "Singhu border episode: Bhim Army chief meets Tarn Taran man's family, seeks CBI probe into lynching". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
9. "15 Dalit outfits demand strict action against culprits of Singhu border lynching". tribuneindia. 16 October 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
10. "Those who killed a Dalit Sikh at site of farmers' protests must face the full force". Indian Express. 17 October 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
11. "National Commission for Scheduled Castes slams Punjab govt for not reaching out to Lakhbir Singh's family". The Indian Express. 25 October 2021. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
12. "'He was running with a Sikh holy book': The 'crime' for which Sikh man was lynched & hacked". ThePrint. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
13. "'Unconscionable': Body with limb chopped off hung at Singhu border; netizens outraged over video of Nihang Sikhs 'claiming responsibility'". Free Press Journal. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
14. "Terrorism: National Commission for Scheduled Castes condemns killing of Dalit man at Singhu border, seeks action". India Today. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
15. Diksha Munjal, Basant Kumar (16 October 2021). "'We don't get in the Nihangs' way': Eyewitnesses detail a night of horror at Singhu". Newslaundry. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
16. Tur, Jatinder Kaur (21 October 2021). "Singhu lynching: Residents identify main accused as recent visitor to victim's village Cheema Kalan". The Caravan. Retrieved 14 November 2021.