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Haryana Police arrests one Nihang Sarabjit accused in the brutal murder of Lakhbir Singh at Kundli border amidst chants of ‘Bole So Nihaal’

OpIndia Staff
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Haryana Police arrests one Nihang Sarabjit accused in the brutal murder of Lakhbir Singh at Kundli border amidst chants of ‘Bole So Nihaal’

The Haryana police have made one arrest in the brutal murder of Dalit labourer Lakhbir Singh at the Kundli border. The accused named Nihang Sarabjit was arrested by the Police. A media report suggests that the ‘Nihang’ was arrested after he surrendered claiming responsibility for killing Lakhbir Singh.

A video shared by news agency ANI shows the police taking away the accused in a police van amidst “Bole so Nihal” slogans.

As can be seen in the snippet, the Nihang Sikhs who have gathered around the police van, chant the slogan as the police lead the accused into the police jeep.

Reports suggest that the arrest is made based on suspicion, and further investigation is underway. 

On Friday, October 15, a gruesome murder was reported from the Singhu-Kundli border protest site where farmers have been camping for more months now against the three farm laws. A badly mutilated corpse of a man, whose hands were chopped and legs cut, was suspended over a police barricade, reportedly by Nihang Sikhs for allegedly committing blasphemy. The victim has been identified as 35-year-old Lakhbir Singh.

A video clip had emerged in which some Nihangs were seen standing around the injured man with his severed left hand close to his head. He is accused of desecrating a Sikh sacred book by the group.

According to the FIR, locals had informed the police that Nihangs had chopped off a hand of the man, later identified as Lakhbir Singh and strung him to a nearby scaffolding.

The FIR also mentions that there was a huge crowd of Nihang community members gathered at the place. However, none of them assisted the police in their investigation and protested against the police for removing the body of the decedent from the scaffolding.

Section 302, which deals with murder, and Section 304, which deals with death by negligence had been filed against unknown people in the case. An investigation has been ordered to probe the matter.

More than one and a half dozen girls missing from the Singhu-Kundli farmer protest site: Report

OpIndia Staff
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More than one and a half dozen girls missing from the Singhu-Kundli farmer protest site: Report

More than one and a half dozen girls have gone missing from the protest site of farmers at the Singhu-Kundli border, the hotspot that was in the news after a mutilated corpse of a man was found hanging on a police barricade on Friday morning.

According to a report published in Dainik Jagran, the protest site where the alleged farmers are camping since last November had gradually devolved into a crime hub, where all sorts of unlawful activities flourish in the name of protests. This has also made it difficult for women to safely navigate the place. Similarly, local shopkeepers have also complained of bullying and harassment at the hands of the so-called farmers who are dwelling at the protest site.

As per the report, the police have been constantly getting complaints of missing girls from the colonies situated close to the Singhu-Kundli border, but they are reluctant to take action on this matter. The heft of protesters in the area is such that even after complaints are filed against them, the law enforcement officials are not willing to initiate action against them.

Additionally, the local shopkeepers in the area claim that they have been attacked with swords and spears by the protesters. Recently, a video of the Khalistani flag being installed on a vehicle in this area had also gone viral.

The report of missing girls came hot on the heels of the death of a Dalit man, who was brutally mutilated and hung to a police barricade, allegedly for blasphemy against Guru Granth Sahib. But long before his ruthless murder, there have been reports of how the camping sites have turned into breeding grounds for criminals and thugs. In April this year, a girl from West Bengal, who came here to take part in the movement, was raped. The victim girl had died later, on April 30. In March 2021, there was an incident of firing at the protest site.

Man hacked to death at Singhu-Kundli border, preliminary investigation points towards involvement of Nihang Sikhs in the brutal murder

A man was found brutally murdered with his right hand chopped and hung to a barricade at the Kundli border farmers’ protest site just outside of New Delhi on Friday morning. The incident caused a huge outrage in the area and the farmers blocked the police from reaching the site. 

As per The New Indian, the man was hacked to death by Nihang Sikhs on Thursday night for allegedly desecrating the holy book Guru Granth Sahib. His right hand was chopped and tied near his body at the Kundli border, between Haryana and Delhi which has been occupied by so-called protesting farmers. 

An FIR was filed and an investigation ordered into the horrifying killing of a man at the Singhu-Kundli border. Sources privy to the details of the case told OpIndia that the man who was mercilessly mutilated and killed at the Kundli border was identified as Lakhbir Singh, son of Harnam Singh. Singh, 35, hailed from Cheema Khurd village and belonged to the SC community. He is survived by his sister, Raj Kaur, estranged wife Jaspreet Kaur, and three daughters. Singh had no criminal history and had no affiliation with any political party.

As per media reports, the incident occurred around 3.30 in the morning. There is another video viral on social media where the badly beaten, brutally injured victim is seen lying helpless on the ground while some angry Nihangs surround him. The man’s chopped hand is seen lying next to him.

Grooming Jihad: Waseem pretends to be ‘Akash’ trying to convert Hindu women to Islam, raped her, threatened to leak revenge porn

OpIndia Staff
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Grooming Jihad: Waseem pretends to be ‘Akash’ trying to convert Hindu women to Islam, raped her, threatened to leak revenge porn

On Thursday (October 14), a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against a man for raping, recording the incident of his heinous crime and trying to forcibly convert the victim to Islam, reported Live Hindustan. The incident took place in the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh.

As per reports, the accused has been identified as one Waseem alias Akash. A complaint was filed at the New Mandi police station, following which a case was registered. As per the complaint, the accused lured the woman into his ‘love trap’ and raped her on multiple occasions. Waseem had also recorded the video of his crime and threatened to upload the clip online. He also tried intimidating the victim to convert to Islam.

During the investigation, it came to light that the accused Waseem operated under the alias of a Hindu name ‘Akash’. By withholding this critical information about his religious identity, he managed to win the trust of the victim and then continued to sexually abuse the victim.

Father-in-law’s brother forced Hindu woman to convert to Islam in UP

Earlier on September 30, the Jaunpur police lodged a case against one Mohammad Shalik for assaulting and forcing his brother’s son and daughter-in-law to convert to Islam. The case was registered under IPC sections 504, 506 and sections 3 and 5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020, based on the complaint filed by the victim, Manita Prajapati.

Manita Prajapati, a resident of Majdeeha village in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, had approached Shah Ganj Kotwali with her written complaint on September 30. In her complaint, Manita alleged that her deceased’s father-in-law’s brother had been forcing her and her husband Jitendra Prajapati to convert to Islam. When they refused, he started torturing them mentally and physically. He also assaulted Jitendra Prajati frequently to exert pressure on the family.

The victim further alleged that Mohammad Salik had previously attempted to murder her husband for refusing to comply with his demands. According to Manita Prajapati, her husband’s uncle had converted 25 years ago, when he moved to Saudi Arabia to earn a living. After he came back, he started exerting pressure on Manita Prajapati’s father-in-law Lorik Prajapati to adopt Islam. Lorik did not succumb to the pressure and blatantly refused to convert his religion.

Devotees in a Durga Visarjan procession get crushed under a speeding car in Chhattisgarh, 1 dead: What we know so far

OpIndia Staff
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Devotees in a Durga Visarjan procession get crushed under a speeding car in Chhattisgarh, 1 dead: What we know so far

At least one person and around 20 people were left injured after devotees involved in the Durga immersion procession were mowed down by a speeding car in Chhattisgarh’s Jashpur. A chilling video of the disturbing incident that has gone viral on the internet showed a speeding car running over an unsuspecting group of people gathered for Durga Idol immersion on Raigad Road in Pathalgaon, Jaspur.

1 dead, over 20 injured as car runs over Dussehra devotees

The person who has died in the incident is identified as Gaurav Aggarwal, 21, a resident of Pathalgaon in Jashpur. The injured have been admitted to the Pathalgaon Civil Hospital for treatment.

As per news agency ANI, two of the injured were referred to other hospitals after an x-ray established fracture.

The car, a maroon Mahindra Xylo, with a Madhya Pradesh number tried to speed away from the horrific accident. However, people present at the spot chased the car and thrashed the driver after stopping it. A report published by Republic TV says the car was loaded with a huge quantity of ganja and was on the run.

Chaos swept Jashpur following the incident, leading to traffic jams on all three major roads of the city. The car was later set ablaze by a furious mob. The police arrived at the location shortly after the incident and launched an investigation into the matter.

According to the reports, 2 people have already been arrested in the case. These include Bablu Vishwakarma, son of Radheshyam Vishwakarma, age 21 years resident of Singrauli, Baidhan, and Shishupal Sahu, son of Ram Janma Sahu, age 26 years, resident of Bargawan police station Bargawan district Singrauli. Both the accused are residents of Madhya Pradesh and were passing through Chhattisgarh. Necessary legal action is initiated against both the culprits.

Jathedar Baba Narain Singh, accused of chopping Lakhbir Singh’s leg, had recently called for beheading those who disrespect Guru Granth Sahib

OpIndia Staff
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Jathedar Baba Narain Singh, accused of chopping Lakhbir Singh’s leg, had recently called for beheading those who disrespect Guru Granth Sahib

On October 15, a man identified as Lakhbir Singh was murdered by Nihang Sikhs on the Singhu border. His dead body was found hanging on the Kundli border. Both these locations are sites of farmer protests, and Nihang Sikhs have been part of these protests since November 2020, when alleged farmers started protesting at borders around Delhi against the Agriculture laws.

One of the Nihang Sikhs who has been accused of chopping the deceased’s leg is Jathedar Baba Narain Singh. A video of Narain Singh calling for the beheading of those who disrespect Guru Granth Sahib Ji has emerged. The video is from an event in Amritsar that happened on September 24.

In the video, he talked about punishing those who disrespect Guru Granth Sahib Ji. While talking about an alleged case of disrespect of Guru Granth Sahib in the first week of September, where a man was caught smoking inside the shrine in Punjab, he said no action was taken by the Jathedars. At 4:40 minutes, he said, “The incident of disrespect did not bring any strong announcements from Jathedars. I am announcing from Akal Takht sahib. Whoever disrespects Guru Granth Sahib, the person must be killed immediately. That person should be beheaded.”

Notably, he is not the only Sikh spiritual leader who has called for murdering those who disrespect Guru Granth Sahib. A few months back, when an Army man was killed in a Gurudwara in Punjab over allegations of disrespecting Guru Granth Sahib, a video of Baba Ravinder Singh Joni started to make rounds. The video was made a few days before the incident. In the video, Ravinder Singh asked to burn the person alive who disrespects Guru Granth Sahib.

Taliban forcibly enter Gurudwara in Afghanistan, threaten worshippers, Sikh community urges India to raise SOS: What happened

OpIndia Staff
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Taliban forcibly enter Gurudwara in Afghanistan, threaten worshippers, Sikh community urges India to raise SOS: What happened

Islamic radicals who belongs to a ‘special unit’ in Afghanistan on Friday forcibly entered Gurdwara Dashmesh Pita at Karte Parwan, Kabul, Afghanistan. Puneet Singh Chandhok, the President of Indian World Forum released a statement and informed about the Islamic radicals desecrating the Gurudwara.

Releasing a statement, Chandok said, “Today heavily armed officials claiming to be from Spl Unit of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan forcibly entered Gurdwara Dashmesh Pita at Karte Parwan, Kabul. They intimidated the community at gurdwara & abused sanctity of holy place”.

He further said that they tried to ward them off, but eventually, the guards of the Gurudwara were threatened with dire consequences. They also raided the entire premises, including the school. “They’re not only raiding the gurdwara but also the entire premises of community school attached next to it. The pvt security guards of the gurdwara initially prevented them from entering but they were also threatened with dire consequences & also manhandled”, Chandhok said.

Chandhok said that there are about 20 Sikhs who are still trapped in the Gurudwara and urged the Indian government to raise alarm over the situation.

“They’ve also simultaneously raided the erstwhile residence and office of MP Narinder Singh Khalsa located adjacent to the gurdwara. Around 20 members of the community are present inside the gurdwara. I urge Govt of India to immediately raise concerns of Hindu & Sikh communities living in Afghanistan with their counterparts at highest level. Incumbent regime in Afghanistan should ensure its compliance to UN Charter & well being of minorities living there”, Chandhok said.

Hindus and Sikhs fled the Taliban regime in Afghanistan 

On August 15, 2021, the Taliban terrorists walked into Kabul, facing no resistance from the Afghan armed forces and declaring themselves as Afghanistan’s rulers. Panic and fear had swept across the country after the fall of Kabul, following which a multitude of city residents flocked to the airport, in a desperate attempt to fly out of the country. 

With India anticipating a humanitarian crisis emerging in Afghanistan, it had already laid the groundwork for initiating a swift evacuation campaign. Indians were dogged by primarily two concerns. Firstly, it didn’t share a contiguous border with Afghanistan, which meant that the evacuation had to be carried out at a broader level with an all-embracing approach. Secondly, India had no security footprint in Afghanistan.

“Our overriding concern was the security of our officials on the ground. So we prioritised it in our plan to exfiltrate them from Afghanistan should the Taliban gets hold of the country,” TOI quoted a senior official as saying, who wished to remain anonymous because of being unauthorised to speak on the issue.

During a press briefing on the 27th of August, the Indian government informed that so far, they have evacuated 550 people from Afghanistan in 6 flights. Out of the 550 people, 260 were Indians. 

“We have evacuated over 550 people in 6 separate flights, either from Kabul or Dushanbe. Of these, over 260 were Indians. GoI also facilitated evacuation of Indian nationals through other agencies. We were in touch with various countries, like [the] US, Tajikistan,” said Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for the ministry of external affairs (MEA), news agency ANI reported.

Further, the ministry said that the “vast majority” of Indians who wanted to return from Afghanistan have been evacuated out of the country. However, Bagchi said that he did not have the exact count of people who wanted to remain in the country. “Our overall assessment is that the vast majority of Indians who wish to return have been evacuated. Some more are likely to be in Afghanistan. I do not have the exact number for that,” he said.

India Today jumps to defend SKM after a man was murdered on their protest site, attribute their defence to ‘sources’

OpIndia Staff
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India Today jumps to defend SKM after a man was murdered on their protest site, attribute their defence to ‘sources’

As Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders are looking for media spots to clarify their stance and dissociate themselves from the alleged farmers responsible for the killing of a Dalit man at the farmers’ protest site, the India Today group now has come out in their defence. 

Putting it on the ‘sources’, India Today in its latest report claims that the SKM had allegedly complained about the presence of this ‘armed group’ on the protest site to the Haryana and Delhi police on multiple occasions.

“The SKM had also conveyed to the police that the Nihangs were not a part of the Morcha and had made appeals to the Nihangs as well to vacate protest sites and remove the Sikh Holy books from there,” said an SKM source.

Trying to monkey balance, SKM in a statement also said that the Morcha is against sacrilege of any religious text or symbol. “We want to make it clear that both the parties to this incident, the Nihang group and the deceased, have no relation with SKM,” it said distancing itself from the incident. 

‘Man admitted he was sent by someone’ claims SKM

Not wanting to upset the Nihang Sikh community, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Samyukt Kisan Morcha in his latest statement said, “When we reached the spot some people were saying that the deceased man, before dying, admitted he was sent by someone & given Rs 30,000.”

However, he simultaneously clarified that they have no video proof of his alleged confession. Ironic, considering the victim was recorded being interrogated by the Nihangs about his personal details when he was gasping for the last few breaths after he was thrashed brutally and had his hand chopped off. 

It is notable here that the brutal murder took place at the SKM protest site at Singhu border. The victim was hanged with his chopped limb near the main stage of the Kisan Morcha protest site.

National Commission for SC seeks report

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairman Vijay Sampla has sought a report over the killing of the Dalit man from the Director-General of Police, Haryana, within 24 hours. 

Sampla has also urged Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to take immediate and strict action against the perpetrators in this matter. 

Pakistan holds secret meetings with terror orgs planning execution of 200 Kashmiri Hindus, BJP and RSS workers in J&K: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan holds secret meetings with terror orgs planning execution of 200 Kashmiri Hindus, BJP and RSS workers in J&K: Report

Pakistan’s ISI held confidential meetings with members of several terrorist organisations on September 21 to plan large-scale attacks and execution of as many as 200 people, including Kashmiri Pandits in the valley, reports India Today.

The media house claims to have accessed the details of the meeting in which ISI and the terror organisation decided to conduct maximum target killings on the Indian side of Kashmir.

According to the report, the Indian Intelligence agencies had learnt about this secret meeting and issued an alert regarding the same.

The alert suggested that the ISI had prepared a ‘hit-list’ of 200 people who would be murdered to create tension in the valley. The list included several names of members associated with BJP and RSS. It also included names of many Kashmiri Pandits and also those Kashmiris working with the police, security forces, intelligence departments.

Pakistani intelligence agency ISI and the terror outfits agreed to utilise terrorists who were not under the watchful eye of Indian security authorities for executing the mass-killing.

To “project it as a spontaneous and totally indigenous activity”, Kashmiris with no records of crime, but known to be sympathisers of militancy, would be used, the Indian alert said.

“For supporting these activities, pistols and grenade are being smuggled through LC from Uri & Tangdhar,” the alert added.

During the conference, a new terror group was allegedly formed that would assume responsibility for targeted killings and attacks in order to deceive the Indian authorities.

Spike in targeted killing of Kashmiri Pandits by ISI backed terrorists in Kashmir stirs panic

It is pertinent to note here that last week, according to rough estimates, in only a span of three days, more than 1400 Hindus left Kashmir to reach Jammu. The mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits was attributed to the recent surge in the incidents of targeted killing of Hindus in the valley.

On October 7, in an extremely brutal attack, two teachers, a Hindu and a Sikh, were shot dead at point-blank range at the Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Idgah, Sangam in Srinagar by Islamic terrorists in Kashmir. Pakistan based terror outfit ‘The Resistance Front’ (TRF), which has claimed responsibility for the attack, has said that they killed the teachers because they had asked students to attend the 15th August function in the school.

As per reports, the teachers present were segregated on basis of their religions and presumably Muslim teachers were allowed to go. The Hindu and Sikh teacher were dragged outside and shot at point-blank range.

Prior to this, Islamist terrorists shot dead a 68 years old Kashmiri Pandit Makhan Lal Bindroo. Two other innocent civilians were also gunned down by terrorists in two different incidents in the city.  

Dharma, Hindu Temples, Ayurveda, population control, and social unity: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s speech on Vijayadashami

OpIndia Staff
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Dharma, Hindu Temples, Ayurveda, population control, and social unity: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s speech on Vijayadashami

On Friday (October 15), Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat performed ‘Shastra pooja’ on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami. He also paid tribute to RSS founder KB Hedgewar & ex-Chief MS Golwalkar at the ‘samadhi Sthal’ in Nagpur in Maharashtra on the occasion of the RSS foundation day at Nagpur headquarters.

Vijayadashami 2021 is also the RSS’ 96th Foundation Day.

In his public address, Mohan Bhagwat emphasised on the need for social unity. He stated, “We don’t want a culture that widens the divide, but the one that binds the nation…Partition of the country is a sad history, the truth of this history should be faced, to bring back the lost integrity and unity, the new generation should know that history.”

RSS chief spoke about population control, and social reforms

On Friday, Mohan Bhagwat emphasised on the need to control the surging population of the country and preventing ‘population imbalance.’ He pointed out, “Population policy should be considered once again, the policy should be made for the next 50 years, and it should be implemented equally, population imbalance has become a problem.”

The RSS chief pointed out the ill effects of technology on children and drug abuse on the youth. He remarked, “There’s no control over what’s shown on OTT platforms. Post-Corona even children have phones. The use of narcotics is rising…how to stop it? Money from such businesses is used for anti-national activities…All of this should be controlled.”

Mohan Bhagwat spoke on Sanatan Dharma and its essence

The RSS chief defined the word ‘Hindu’ as the fabric that binds our heritage, evokes praise for our ancestors and instils a sense of devotion towards the motherland. “Absorbed in these three elements we can all wear the uniqueness of our underlying Sanatana oneness as our jewel and uplift our whole country. We must do this. This is the mission of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. #RSSVijayadashami”

“Due to all-round efforts, there is a renewed confidence and the awakening of our ‘selfhood’ in our society also. The contribution drive for Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple witnessed an overwhelming and devotional response which is a testimony to this awakening,” he stated. Mohan Bhagwat further added, “If the Dharma that envisions a world based on Sanatan value-system prevails in Bharat then the foul play of selfish forces will automatically be neutralised.”

The RSS Chief reiterated that the Hindu society must become united, strong, vigilant and active such that they neither threaten anyone’s existence nor fear others.

He clarified, “This appeal for consolidation of strength is not reactionary. This is a natural expected state in a society. Only a unified, strong and well-informed society with a national character can assert its voice before the world.”

He asserted, “Sanatan Hindu culture and its magnanimous Hindu society that has the ability to accept all, alone can be the saviour of the world from the catastrophic grip of radicalism, intolerance, terrorism, conflict, animosity and exploitation.”

Ayurveda and the Coronavirus pandemic

In his speech, Mohan Bhagwat emphasised how traditional knowledge systems and ‘selfhood’ had helped people amidst the pandemic. He said, “We experienced the efficacy of our traditional lifestyle practices and Ayurvedic medicinal system in fighting and tackling the Coronavirus. We are all able to appreciate the need for an effective and affordable treatment modality that may be accessible to each and every person living through the length and breadth of our vast country.”

Furthermore, the RSS chief outlined how the perspective on healthcare changed from preventive towards wellness.

He pointed out how traditional medicine systems are effectively addressing primary healthcare needs in rural areas. “Rising above the conflict for supremacy of one method of medicine over another, rational use of all treatment modalities can ensure affordable, accessible, and effective treatment for all,” Mohan Bhagwat reiterated.

State of Hindu temples are a matter of concern: RSS Chief

The RSS chief lamented, “State of the Hindu temples today is one such concern. Temples of South India are fully controlled by the state governments. In the rest of the country some are managed by the government, a few through joint family trusts while some are run by the trusts governed under society’s registration acts. Few temples completely lack any system of governance.”

Mohan Bhagwat pointed out that there is no uniform solution for the issue of Hindu temples in India. Citing examples, he stated that there are some temples that are under Govt control but are managed well, like the Vaishno Devi Temple. There are some independent temples that are managed by devotees but are in very bad condition.

Dr Bhagwat asserted that Hindus will have to come up with a detailed system for Temple management to provide a solution. The funds of Hindu temples should only be utilised for the causes of the Hindu community and the respective deities should be regarded as the sole owner, as stated by the Supreme Court, he added.

“The injustices such as the exclusive appropriation of Hindu religious sites for decades and centuries, handing over of the operations to the non-devotees/irreligious, unethical persons despite the State being ‘secular’ must be expunged, Dr Bhagwat added.

‘They are not farmers, they are butchers’: After murder of Lakhbir Singh at Kundli border, Kasar sarpanch remembers how Mukesh was burnt alive

OpIndia Staff
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‘They are not farmers, they are butchers’: After murder of Lakhbir Singh at Kundli border, Kasar sarpanch remembers how Mukesh was burnt alive

On Friday, October 15, a gruesome murder was reported from the Singhu-Kundli border protest site where farmers have been camping for more months now against the three farm laws. A badly mutilated corpse of a man, whose hands were chopped and legs cut, was suspended over a police barricade, reportedly by Nihang Sikhs for allegedly committing blasphemy. The victim has been identified as 35 year old Lakhbir Singh.

The grotesque incident instantly called to mind the horrifying fate of the 42-year-old Mukesh of Kasar village in Bahadurgarh, who was burnt alive in a farmers’ tent on the Tikri border on June 16, 2021. In the aftermath of the Kundli border incident, OpIndia spoke to the sarpanch of Kasar, Tony Kumar, to understand his views about the ongoing farmer protests. 

Kasar Village sarpanch says protesting demonstrators are not farmers, but butchers

“These (protesters) are not farmers. They are butchers. Farmers won’t kill people. Whereas these folks are cutting and slicing people who do not conform to their worldview,” said Kumar about the demonstrators who have been protesting against the Central government since last November. 

Speaking on the progress they made with respect to getting protesters removed from the border site after the unfortunate death of Mukesh, Tony despondently responded that their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. 

“We are tired of submitting applications, nothing has happened since then. It is not under the control of the administration. We used to help them (farmer protesters) earlier. Used to go to their meeting when called. But, after the incident with Mukesh, we stopped attending their gatherings or extending any kind of help to them,” Kumar said. 

About the financial help Mukesh’s family has received from the government, Kumar said so far Rs 7 lakhs has been compensated to the family, out of which Rs 5 lakhs were given by BJP’s local MLA Naresh Kaushik and Rs 2 lakh were disbursed by Hisar’s Rashtriya Brahmin Mahasabha. The sarpanch also claims that the process of providing a government job to Mukesh’s widow is still underway. 

However, Mukesh’s younger brother Manjeet disputed the claims of compensation received by the family. Speaking to OpIndia, Manjeet said the family is yet to receive any help from the government. When informed about the claims made by the sarpanch, Manjeet said, “He is like an elder brother to me. He might be trying on his level to get the family some compensation but we are not aware of it.”

He further added, “Our only demand from the government is that those who are guilty of killing my brother should be punished and my brother’s widow should get a job so that the future of the family is secured.”

Manjeet told OpIndia that their family has received financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh from the society. On the nuisance created by the alleged farmer protests, Manjeet says, “We have no personal quarrel with them. The people of the entire Bahadurgarh are suffering from their demonstrations. But what can we do? The government has the authority to solve this crisis.”

It is worth noting that when the OpIndia team reached Kasar after the news of Mukesh being burnt alive, the villagers had told us that they were being harassed by drunk farmers who were present at the protest site in the name of demonstrations. In a complaint filed with the administration, the villagers had said, “For the past 6-7 months, the alleged farmers have created a ruckus on the road adjoining village Kasar. They come to the village under the influence of alcohol and start harassing us, driving tractors at us, molest our women so on and so forth.”

The villagers had asked the administration to remove the farmers with immediate effect. “These people (farmer protesters) have burnt Mukesh alive. These people are not farmers. They are criminals. They are under the influence of liquor all the time. It’s been a year, these people are not going from here. There has been a ruckus over here,” they had said then. 

What happened to Mukesh? 

Mukesh, 42, was the eldest of Jagdish Chandra’s three children. On June 16, 2021, Mukesh succumbed to burn injuries after fellow farmer protestors allegedly set him ablaze at the Tikri border protest site. Villagers had then alleged that Mukesh’s murder was a conspiracy to make him appear as a ‘martyr’ against the farm laws.

OpIndia talked to the bereaved mother, who is still finding it hard to come to grips with the reality that her son was allegedly killed by agitators pretending to be fighting for the rights of farmers. Shakuntala, Mukesh’ mother remembers her son left the house on Wednesday evening for a walk to the nearby field. When we asked her who killed her beloved son, Shakuntala says the protesters killed him. Mukesh had that evening gone for a walk to the nearby field, where farmers protesting against the three farm laws had put up their tents.

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