The 2021 Singhu border lynching refers to the

lynching Lynching is an extrajudicial killing by a group. It is most often used to characterize informal public executions by a mob in order to punish an alleged transgressor, punish a convicted transgressor, or intimidate people. It can also be an ex ...

incident that occurred in the early hours of 15 October 2021 at Delhi's Singhu border, resulting in the death of Lakhbir Singh, a Dalit Sikh from

Tarn Taran district Tarn Taran district is one of the districts in the Majha region of Punjab, India. The main cities are Tarn Taran Sahib, Bhikhiwind, Khadur Sahib and Patti. The City of Tarn Taran is a holy place for Sikhs. Tarn Taran district was formed in 2 ...

Punjab, India Punjab (; ) is a States and union territories of India, state in northern India. Forming part of the larger Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, the state is bordered by the States and union territories of India, Indian states of Himachal ...

. The murder 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. A

Nihang The Nihang or Akali (lit. "the immortals") is an armed Sikh warrior order originating in the Indian subcontinent. Nihang are believed to have originated either from Fateh Singh and the attire he wore or from the "Akali" (lit. Army of the Immort ...

Sikh Sikhs ( or ; pa, ਸਿੱਖ, ' ) are people who adhere to Sikhism, Sikhism (Sikhi), a Monotheism, monotheistic religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Gu ...

group took responsibility for the lynching and killing, claiming that the man committed sacrilege of their holy scripture. A Nihang accepted his role in the murder, and surrendered on the same day. The second accused, who also belongs to the Nihang group, was arrested by the Amritsar police. After being taken into the police custody, the second accused claimed that he had surrendered before the police. Meanwhile, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) distanced itself from the alleged lynching of the man, and agreed to cooperate with the police in the investigation. The

Bhim Army The Bhim Army, alternatively Bheem Army ( lit."Ambedkar Army") or the Bheem Army Bharat Ekta Mission (translation: "Ambedkar Army Indian Unity Mission") is an Ambedkarite and Dalit rights organisation in India. It was founded by Satish Kumar, ...

extended financial support for the family of the victim and demanded an impartial probe from the CBI. In addition, 15 Dalit organizations have also called for strict action against the culprits in the killing of Lakhbir Singh at the Singhu border. Meanwhile, the victim's family has complained to the "National Commission for Scheduled Castes" about the lack of support from the

Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...

state government.

Background

On night of 14 October 2021, a dalit Sikh labourer, Lakhbir Singh from Cheema Khurd village of

was

lynched Lynching is an extrajudicial killing by a group. It is most often used to characterize informal public executions by a mob in order to punish an alleged transgressor, punish a convicted transgressor, or intimidate people. It can also be an ex ...

s present at farmers' protest site on the allegations of sacrilege by his picking up the copy of a

Sarbloh Granth The Sarbloh Granth or Sarabloh Granth ( pa, ਸਰਬਲੋਹ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ, ', literally 'Scripture of Wrought Iron'), also called Manglacharan Puran or Sri Manglacharan Ji, is a voluminous scripture, composed of more than 6,500 poetic stanza ...

. Family members of Lakhbir denied his role in alleged sacrilege. Village residents told

The Caravan ''The Caravan'' is an Indian English-language, long-form narrative journalism magazine covering politics and culture. History In 1940, Vishwa Nath launched ''Caravan'' as the first magazine from the Delhi Press; it went on to establish its ...

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.

References

{{Lynching in India 2021 murders in India Attacks in India in 2021 Lynching deaths in India October 2021 events in India October 2021 crimes in Asia People murdered in Delhi Caste-related violence in India Deaths by blade weapons Nihang Sikh terrorism in India Dalit history Deaths by person in India

Background

See also

References