Graphic images of a man tied to a police barricade at Singhu border in Haryana, near Delhi, went viral on social media today morning. Preliminary reports suggest that the man, believed to be Lakhbir Singh, was murdered for an alleged act of sacrilege of the Sikh holy book, at the Singhu border where farmers’ protest have been going on since last November.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the group of farmers’ organisations that has been spearheading the protests against the three farm laws, issued a statement condemning  the gruesome killing of the man and has clarified that the farmers’ group has nothing to do with the killing.

Also Read: Farmers Protest: Gaon Connection spent three days with the protesting farmers, as they marched from Punjab and Haryana towards Delhi

“Samyukt Morcha condemns the gruesom (sic) killing of the man and wants to make it clear that both the parties to this incident, the Nihang group and the deceased person, have no relation with Samyut Kisan Morcha,” the farmer organisation said in a statement today. 

“The Morcha is against the sacrilege of any religious text, but that dies (sic) not give anyone the right to take the law into their own hands,” it added.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha went on to say that it has been reported that a group of Sikh leaders from the Nihang faction has claimed responsibility for the murder.

Also Read: Battle for MSP: Punjab and Haryana’s farmers fear their robust mandi system will collapse

Meanwhile, the police have filed an FIR and a probe is underway.

“At about 5 am today, a body was found hanging with hands, legs chopped at the spot where farmers’ protest is underway (Kundli, Sonipat). No info on who’s responsible, FIR lodged against an unknown person. Viral video is a matter of probe, rumours will linger,” Deputy Superintendent of Haryana Police (Sonipat) Hansraj was quoted by a news agency.

As per unconfirmed news reports, Lakhbir Singh, who was brutally murdered, was adopted by one Harnam Singh when he was six-month-old. Lakhbir Singh used to work as a labourer and was a resident of the village Cheema Khurd in Tarn Taran, Punjab.

Also Read: Death by Debt: 86% farming households in Punjab under debt; over 16,606 farmers died by suicide between 2000-2015

Some videos and images on social media show the victim lying lifelessly in a pool of blood with his chopped wrist kept next to him.

Singhu border has been in the headlines for the past one year as several farmers have been camping there since last November to protest against the three new farm laws of the central government. Despite several rounds of discussions with the government, no solution has been found and protests continue. 

Also Read: Farmers’ protest: The battlefield shifts to Lakhimpur Kheri