Bathinda lynching: ‘Drug trader’ kin block road, demand accused’s arrest

Police had booked sarpanch Charanjit Kaur, her two sons and 10 aides for the murder. They are absconding.

With the police failing to arrest any of the 13 people accused of lynching a 25-year-old man at Bhai Wander village, his family blocked the Talwandi Sabo-Bathinda road after his bhog ceremony on Sunday.

Victim Vinod Kumar giving his statement to police at the Bathinda civil hospital. He later succumbed to his injuries at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College in Faridkot. (HT File Photo)

Vinod Kumar, alias Monu Arora, who was facing two drug cases and was out on bail, was killed on the suspicion of supplying drugs last Thursday.

Police had booked sarpanch Charanjit Kaur, her two sons and 10 aides for the murder. They are absconding.

Monu’s father, Vijay Kumar — who is also undergoing trial in a drug case and was released on bail on Saturday — said the family has blocked the road to demand justice. He said it has been more than a week, but the police have failed to arrest the accused despite assurance.

“We will attempt self-immolation on Monday if cops don’t arrest the accused,” he said.

Talwandi Sabo deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Barinder Singh said the department is making efforts to arrest the accused. “We are also trying to convince the family to lift the blockade,” he said.