Three persons arrested in the Mansa Dalit killing were sent to police remand on Thursday until October 15. The fourth accused in the case has also been arrested by Punjab Police, according to a report by The Indian Express, while two more accused remain absconding.
Image: Hindustan Times
Following the brutal killing of Dalit youth Sukhchain Singh Pali on Monday, an FIR has been registered against six people – Balbir Singh, Hardeep Singh, Sandhu Singh, Amandeep Singh, Babrik Singh and Sita Singh, who allegedly committed the murder of the 20-year-old and chopped off Pali’s leg in a case of inter-gang rivalry. While Balbir, Hardeep and Sandhu were arrested on Wednesday. All of them including the deceased are reportedly petty liquor smugglers.
According to a news report, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar informed that the six were booked for murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code on Tuesday. Sources in police have claimed Pali was murdered to settle old scores. He had beaten up Sadhu Singh’s brother and also had a brawl with three of the accused a day before he was murdered, as per this report.
The kin of the deceased have refused to cremate his body, and have accused Shiromani Akali Dal MP Balwinder Singh Bhundar of shielding the smugglers. The family has been protesting at the civil hospital since Tuesday morning.
The incident has given to rise to a political storm in the state with political parties making accusations on each other. According to news reports, Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state convener Gurpreet Singh Waraich targeted the SAD on the issue, alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s state president Vijay Sampla has instituted a party-level inquiry into the incidents of alleged atrocities against Dalits.
Congress state legislator Sunil Jakhar, who visited the family on Wednesday, accused the SAD-BJP government of patronising the liquor mafia in the state. “These liquor contractors have hired henchmen, who often attack and harass others,” he said, while demanding a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Akali MP Bhundar denied the allegations levelled against him. “I am not in Mansa for the past couple of days, and I have no connection with any of the accused booked in this case,” he told Hindustan Times.
Raj Kumar Verka, vice-chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, has assured legal assistance to the victim’s family. He said top state police officials have been asked to arrest all the suspects soon, as reported by Hindustan Times.
Related story: Dalit Women Student Brutalised Before Murder: Kerala
Related story: Why Dalits are turning against the BJP