Dalit Youth Murdered in Punjab, Leg Chopped Off; 3 Arrested

The victim, who was allegedly involved in illegal liquor trade, was killed by a rival group, according to police.

In a shocking incident, a 20-year-old Dalit youth, who was allegedly involved in illegal liquor trade, was brutally killed and his leg chopped off allegedly by a rival group of liquor smugglers in the Mansa district of Punjab, police said on Wednesday.

Mansa SSP Mukhwinder Singh said police have arrested three accused Balbir Singh, Hardeep Singh, and Sadhu Singh from the district on a tip-off.

He said efforts are on to nab three other accused – Amandeep Singh, Babrik Singh and Sita Singh.

A case of murder has been registered against the six persons and one of the accused is also a Dalit. Police said both the groups were allegedly involved in illegal liquor trade and were involved in clashes in the past.

The victim Sukhchain Singh and his friends were called by the other group on the pretext of settling an issue on Monday.

Then they attacked Sukhchain and his friends with sharp edged weapons on Monday night. Though Sukhchain’s friends managed to flee, the other group brutally killed Sukhchain with a sharp-edged weapon.

Mansa SSP Mukhwinder Singh

His body was recovered from one of the accused’s house, police said.

There were injury marks on his body and his leg was also found chopped off, police said, adding that the missing limb has been found in the fields, nearly 400 meter from the crime scene.

Meanwhile, the family of the victim had refused to cremate the body until the chopped-off limb is found.

“We shall now request the family of victim to cremate the body,” the SSP said.

He said two persons of the rival group, who are not named in the FIR, have been rounded up for questioning.

The incident drew condemnation from the opposition Congress, which alleged the perpetrators had links to the ruling Akali Dal.