Will expose conspirators behind killing at Singhu border: Punjab Deputy CM

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 19

Reacting to The Tribune report on a meeting between Nihang leader Baba Aman Singh and BJP ministers, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa today promised the government would identify and expose the conspirators behind the killing of a “sacrilege accused” at the Singhu border.

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Nihang Baba admits to secretly meeting Union Agriculture Minister Tomar, claims 'offered Rs 10 lakh' to vacate dharna site

Nihang chief Baba Aman Singh may have been part of efforts to end stir

Explain in what capacity Baba met Tomar

The Nihang leader needs to explain in what capacity he met Agriculture Minister NS Tomar and whether he was mandated to do so by the farmers’ organisations. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Deputy CM

Separately, a team of five advocates from Punjab, namely Navkiran Singh, Tejinder Singh Sudan, Yadvinder Singh Dhillon, Harinder Singh Ishar and Parminder Singh Maloya, today visited the Singhu border to collect information about the alleged sacrilege incident and murder of Lakhbir Singh. Navkiran Singh said the team met various Nihang leaders and had telephonic conversation with investigating police officials also. The team will release its report soon.

In a statement, Randhawa said in view of the recent disclosures about one of the Nihang leaders having been in touch with Minister for Agriculture NS Tomar, the lynching incident had now taken an entirely different turn. The same Nihang leader is now defending the main lynching accused.

“Lakhbir Singh, the Dalit victim, belonged to Cheema Kalan village and was poor. We need to find out who lured him to the Singhu border and who paid for his travel as he could not even afford meals,” Randhawa said.

He said the Nihang leader would need to explain in what capacity he had met Tomar and whether he was mandated to do so by the farmers’ organisations spearheading the campaign against three “black” farm laws.

The Deputy Chief Minister said as the Nihang leader was camping at and staging dharna at the Singhu border, it was mandatory on his part to keep the farm unions informed and updated about his meetings with the Union Minister.

“This has raised genuine doubts and suspicion among the minds of people which will need to be cleared and the Punjab Government will do everything to reach to the root of the conspiracy and expose the culprits,” he said.

Role of agencies suspected: Jakhar

PCC ex-chief Sunil Jakhar on Tuesday alleged there could be a role of agencies in the Singhu killing. “There is certainly something more than what meets the eye,” he said, adding incidents of recent months point towards a concerted bid to paint the farm struggle as one of a particular community and create divisions.