The viral social media video of the lynched body of a 35-year old man who was beaten to death by the mob and his mutilated body was shocking to watch. Anyone who watched the video would have needed some time to get over it and think of anything else. It was a terrible sight that has raised tons of questions in itself.
According to some sources, the victim had allegedly desecrated the holy Guru Granth Sahib of the Sikhs. This is touted as the reason for mob Fury that allegedly led to his killing. But, the most inhumane and concerning aspect was the brutality that led to his death. His hands were chopped off and he was beaten brutally while his dead body was hanged with the barricade near the protesting farmers. The 35-year-old victim belonged to the Tarn Taran district of Punjab named Lakhbir Singh. The more inhumane part was that people made videos of the brutality capturing the dead body. The anger, hate, and brutality that reflected from the act questions humans and humanity.
The incident took place at Sonipat that is near the Punjab and Haryana border at Singhu border. It is the same place where some farmer’s organizations have been protesting against the new farm bills passed by the government. The peaceful protest has been going on for more than 1 year now. After some hours the video went viral and a Nihang Sikh surrendered over the incident. He claimed complete responsibility for the brutal act. There was no doubt that it took a political turn within a few hours. There were statements and cross statements released by various political parties.
On the other hand, the Lakhimpur Kheri incident where a car of a union minister’s son allegedly ran over the protesting farmers killing 4 of them has also made the situation fragile. The situation has become quite dangerous and delicate that can take an undesired turn at any moment. It is difficult to anticipate the future of the country in such a scenario. These happenings are opposite to the values that have been learnt through centuries in the country. We have completely left behind the religious mantra of non-violence that was the soul of the independence movement brought to light by Mahatma Gandhi.
More people are being arrested in the Singhu border killing incident but that does not rest the matter. The leadership of farmers’ protests by SKM (Sanyukt Kisan Morcha) is the core leadership body of more than 30 farmer organizations protesting for more than 11 months now. It has very easily taken a backseat by denying any connection with the Incident and Labelling it as a religious matter.
But, this argument is more irresponsible. They may have no involvement or connection with the Incident. Still, a basic action of calling the police or administrative authorities of this case was possible. After all, the incident took place very close to the stage of protesting farmers. Was it a purposely done activity or they effectively tried to ignore it? It is also very difficult to understand why the guarded barricade was easy for the accused to hang the dead body? There is an equal question over the law and order mechanism near the strictly guarded protesting site.
An investigation is in the process while this article is being written and news reporters and anchors are following up on the incident 24/7. Still, the incident in the spotlight will quickly go under wraps with new headlines coming up. The political parties will still use the incident to their matter with an additional caste angle.
But, will this heal the loss of the grieving family? The politics began quickly with BJP’s social media attacks were made on congress saying that why did the party not comment on the killing. Congress had recently made a new CM (who hails from Dalit origin) in Punjab which made it a further target under the scanner. In the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, the BJP top leaders did not comment and the Supreme Court had to intervene for justice, and then the arrest was made.
Both the incidents reflect a degenerated society that is certainly not the goal of a developing India. In an era where we should be focusing on employment and education in a peaceful atmosphere for receiving the economy, we are rather woven into violent and inhumane acts. The features of hate, dividedness, and collapse of law and order are opposite to the society that we have planned for our future generations. It a high time to introspect and correct these errors or else we shall not fulfil the dream of a peaceful, progressive and modern India to gift the future generations.
Also Read: Nihangs: Who are they?
