Haryana: One member of Sikh order Nihang surrenders after severed body found in farmers' protest site

Haryana Chief Minister ML Khatttar held meeting with Home Minister Anil Vij and the Haryana Police DGP over the murder.

According to NDTV, there are two likely suspects - a Baba Amandeep Singh and a Baba Narayan Singh; one cut off the victim Lakhbir Singh's hand and the other his foot.

Earlier, the Haryana Police said on Friday that an arrest is expected soon in the horrendous incident where the body of a man with a hand and a foot severed was found at a farmers' protest site in Haryana's Sonipat, around 30 km from Delhi, media reports said.

"We've registered a case under 302/34 IPC (murder charges under the Indian Penal Code). The forensic team has examined the scene of the crime. A post-mortem is underway. We have some suspect names, will make headway soon," said senior Haryana Police officer Sandeep Khirwar, reported NDTV.

"At about 5 this morning, a man's body was found tied to a barricade in a mutilated condition. We have collected vital clues from the crime scene, an arrest is expected soon. A probe is on," his colleague JS Randhawa said.

The body was found in a pool of blood at the border, police said.

The deceased, who is 35 or 36, is identified as Lakhbir Singh from Tam Taran district.

Singh, a labourer by profession, is survived by a sister, a wife and three daughters.

After discovering his body, Sonipat Police cut down the ties and took the body to hospital.

The Haryana Police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) under sections 302 and 34 over the killing in Sonipat.

Farmers' union Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) have condemned the killing and demanded punishment of the culprits.

SKM said in a statement, "We demand that the culprits be punished according to law after investigating the allegation of murder and conspiracy behind sacrilege. As always, Samyukt Kisan Morcha will cooperate with the police and administration in any lawful action."

Starting a blame-game, the SKM has alleged that the Nihang Sikhs are behind the incident.

"Nihangs are behind the incident. They have accepted it. Nihangs have been causing trouble for us from the beginning," said SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal as quoted by India Today.

A video that went viral showed a group of Nihangs standing around the man, who was tied and lying in a pool of blood.

The Nihangs are seen questioning the man in the video.

Reacting to the incident, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT Cell head Amit Malviya held farmers' leader Rakesh Tikait for the incident.

"Had Rakesh Tikait not justified mob lynching in Lakhimpur, with Yogendra Yadav, sitting next to him, maintaining sanctimonious silence, the gory murder of a youth at Kundali border would not have happened. Anarchists behind these protests in the name of famers need to be exposed," he tweeted.

The farmers are camped along the border of the national capital for almost a year protesting against the three contentious farm laws enacted by the central government.