Abohar killing: Akali leader Shiv Lal Doda absconding; Amarinder Singh demands probe by SC Judge

News channels today reported that Akali Dal leader and liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda, whose henchmen allegedly killed a Dalit youth in his farmhouse, is absconding.

Meanwhile, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today demanded that a sitting Supreme Court judge should head a probe into the brutal murder.

He also sought a probe by a judge of the apex court into alleged "fake encounters and extra-judicial killings" during the militancy period in Punjab, and recent incidents of sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib in the state.

"What happened in Abohar is totally inhuman and against the law. In any civilised country, the culprits would have been behind the bars, but here they are being protected by the Akalis," Singh alleged.

27-year-old Bhim Sain was murdered by suspected henchmen of liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda while Sain's associate was grievously injured in the attack on Friday last. "A probe should take place into this," Singh said.

The Punjab Congress chief termed as "shameful" Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal's remarks in Parliament terming the Abohar killing as a "gang war". "It is shameful that in place of providing justice to the victim's family, such excuses (of gang war) are being made.

"It is a story being made...these boys were tortured, they are young boys, the way such barbaric action takes place...the perpetrator should be hanged," he said at a news conference.

Singh alleged that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was directly responsible for the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari recently and the killing of two Sikh youths in police firing during protests that followed.

The government handed over the probe to the CBI, but did not include police action in the terms of reference, he said. "I want that an inquiry should take place under a Supreme Court judge...When a thorough probe is held, the finger will be pointed at the Badals only," Singh said.

--PTI