The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella group organising the farmers' protests, has condemned the murder of a man near the stir site on the Singhu border.
Lakhbir Singh, a native of Tarn Taran district of Punjab, was found tied up with an arm chopped off on Friday morning. Initial reports said a Nihang group (a community of armed Sikhs) killed him for allegedly desecrating the Guru Granth Sahib.
The SKM issued a statement on the murder, which evoked outrage and allegations that the farmers' protest was leading to anarchy. The SKM statement noted "It is been reported that this deceased was staying with the same group of Nihangs for some time."
Condemning the incident, the SKM said it wanted to make it clear "both the parties to this incident, the Nihang group and the deceased person, have no relation with Samyukt Kisan Morcha".
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The SKM 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. As always, Samyukt Kisan Morcha will cooperate with the police and administration in any lawful action."
Meanwhile, the Haryana Police announced it had lodged an FIR over the incident. Sonipat DSP Hansraj was quoted by The Times of India as saying an FIR was lodged against unknown persons.
