New Delhi: The body of a man with a hand chopped off, and found tied to a barricade in Kundli, close to the main stage at the farmers' protest site along the Delhi-Haryana Singhu border on Friday, is the works of Nihang Sikhs, alleged the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM).
In a statement, SKM said: "A Nihang group at the scene has claimed responsibility, saying that the 'incident took place because the deceased attempted to commit sacrilege of the Sarbaloh Granth'."
Several viral videos were shot before and after the man was killed. In one such video, he is seen surrounded by Nihang Sikhs and being questioned.
According to the umbrella group of farmers, the man was identified as 35-year-old Lakhbir Singh from village Cheema Kalan in Taran Taran district of Punjab.
Another viral video showed a group of Nihangs standing around the man, who was tied to the police barricade at the site was dripping blood. His left hand was chopped off at the wrist and the severed limb was seen lying on the ground next to the man.
The Morcha which has been holding protests against the new farm laws, condemned the killing and said they have nothing to do with the man, or the group of Nihangs.
"It has come to the notice of Samyukt Kisan Morcha that a person hailing from from Punjab (Lakhbir Singh, son Darshan Singh, Village Cheema Kala, Police Station Sarai Amanat Khan, District Tarn Taran) was mutilated and murdered this morning at the Singhu Border. 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," the statement said.
"Samyukt Kisan Morcha condemns this gruesome killing and wants to make it clear that both the parties to this incident, the Nihang group and the deceased person, have no relation with Samyukt Kisan Morcha," it said.
The statement also said that the man was reportedly staying with the same group of Nihangs for some time.
The statement said 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".
The statement added that the SKM will cooperate with the police and administration in any lawful action. (UNI)