"The horrific image of Lakhbir Singh's dead body should haunt each of us"

Lakhbir Singh, a 35-year-old Dalit man brutally killed at the farmer's protest site Singhu border. The incident sent shockwaves across the country. Hours later, Nihang Sikhs claimed responsibility for the assault. He was found hanging at the police barricade, his left hand was chopped.

Who was Lakhbir Singh?

• Lakhbir Singh was resident of Cheema Khurd, the village in Punjab. He was killed at Singhu Border for allgedly desecrating the Sikh holy book.
• He was from Dalit Community and was a daily wage labourer. He is survived by a sister, a wife, and three daughters - the eldest just 12 and the youngest eight.
• Saravjit Singh, a member of a Nihang group, surrendered to the police this evening claiming responsibility. He has been arrested and will be presented in court on Saturday.
• Nihangs are an order of Sikhs, and their ancestry can be traced back to the creation of Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. 
• Traditional Nihangs attires, also known as Khalsa Swarupa comprises of blue robes, full-sized swords, iron bracelets and saffron turbans. 

Sanyukt Kisan Morcha on Killing

"A Nihang group at the scene has claimed responsibility, saying that the incident took place because of the victim's attempt to commit sacrilege with regard to the Sarbaloh Granth. It is been reported that he was staying with the same group of Nihangs for some time."

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM)

Justice for Lakhbir Singh

Dalit community is demanding justice for Lakhbir Singh. One Instagram user bakeryprasad shared a post and wrote:-

The horrific image of Lakhbir’s dead body should haunt each of us. It should haunt each and every ‘peaceful protestor’ who didn’t do anything to stop it. It should haunt each and every soul who betrayed the gurus by being a tool and witness of oppression.

It should haunt every human who boast of humanity and equality in the society. It should haunt every ideology that failed to save him. It will haunt me, as I assumed that he was in a safe space. No space is safe for us. No system is safe for us. We can’t risk our lives on any brahminical structure or system anymore.

I failed Lakhbir Singh. We failed Lakhbir and his family and the families of thousands of our people. And we’ve been continuously failing them, us and ourselves.

PS: I am sorry but I can’t put a trigger warning here

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