3 more held in Abohar murder case, 5 L compensation announced

Three more persons were today arrested in connection with the murder of a 27-year-old Dalit man in Abohar, whose limbs were chopped off by suspected henchmen of a liquor baron even as the Centre announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the victim's family.
Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Vijay Sampla visited the family of Bhim Sain and announced the financial assistance. He also met senior police officials including IG, DIG, SSP and sought arrest of those who were involved in the alleged murder of Sain.
With today's arrests, four persons have been held so far in connection with the alleged murder of Sain by suspected henchmen of liquor baron and Akali leader Shiv Lal Doda.

"We have arrested three more persons," DIG Bathinda Range Amar Singh Chahal told PTI today.
The three arrested were identified as Harpreet Harry, Radheyshaym and Gulab, said Chahal, adding that they were nabbed from Lalru, near Chandigarh.
Another person, identified as Vicky, was arrested yesterday from Rajasthan.

Asked about the possible arrest of Doda and his nephew Amit Doda who have been booked for conspiracy in this case, DIG Bathinda Range said, "We are carrying out raids to nab other accused and nobody has been given clean chit."
Suspected henchmen of Doda allegedly chopped off the limbs of Sain in the attack led by one Harpreet Harry after a heated exchange broke out between Sain and Harry on Friday night at a farm house in Abohar subdivision area.

Police had booked several persons including Harry, Raja, Radheyshyam, Wazir, Gulab, Chhajju, Simran, Happy and some unidentified persons under various sections, including Section 302 (murder), of the IPC in connection with murder.
Police today presented the arrested accused before the local court which sent them to seven days police remand, said Fazilka SSP Indermohan Singh Bhatti.
Police maintained that this incident was a fall-out of "gang rivalry" between Bhim Sain and other group.
"There was an old enmity between both the groups," Bhatti said.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Social Justice
and Empowerment Vijay Sampla visited the family of the victims at Abohar here today and also announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the family members of Sain.

Minister also met the senior police officials including IG, DIG, SSP among others in connection with this case and sought arrest of those who were involved in the "murder" of Sain.
"I have asked police to take strict action against those who were involved in the killing of Bhim Sain. There should not be any leniency against anyone involved in this case how influential he may be," said Sampla while pointing towards Shiv Lal Doda.
However, the Union Minister rejected the police's argument that the incident was the result of a gang war between the two factions.
"He (Bhim) had earlier been working with him (Shiv Lal Doda)...He was asked to come to his farmhouse. There was no gang war...There was an ill-intention behind his murder. Gang war takes place when two groups engage in fight face-to-face," claimed Sampla.

Doda had contested the 2012 Punjab Assembly polls as an Independent from Abohar and lost to Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar.
National Commission for Scheduled Castes Vice-Chairman Raj Kumar Verka had yesterday visited Abohar and said that if police failed to arrest all accused in the case, then the Commission would recommend the case to be handed over to CBI.
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Meanwhile, a delegation of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders led by party convener Punjab, Suchha Singh Chottepur, today met with the family of the Dalit who was killed at Abohar.
Chottepur alleged the law and order situation in Punjab has deteriorated under the Akali regime.

The AAP leader alleged that police were registering false cases on the command of their "political gurus" instead of performing its duty of protecting the common man and expressed fear that the present environment in Punjab was going to destroy the harmony among the different communities.
Showing solidarity with the victim family, Aam Aadmi Party leaders said the party will raise the issue at every level.
Chottepur said desired help in the process of getting justice will be provided to the family.
The party also asked the police to arrest liquor baron and accused Shiv Lal Doda and his nephew Amit Doda failing to which AAP leaders threatened of holding a dharna to get justice for the victim family.

Aam Aadmi Party extended financial help of Rs one lakh to the victim family.