Minor boy tied to pillar, burnt alive in Punjab's Mansa district

A 16-year old boy was tied up to a pillar and burnt alive at an disused rice godown in Punjab’s Mansa district, police said on Sunday.

Three people have been take into custody for the offence. Both the victim and the perpetrator belonged to the Dalit community. The occurrence took place on Saturday, while the body was recovered on Sunday.

SHO Sukhjeet Singh stated, “As per our investigation, Jaspreet Singh was first tied to a pillar with a rope, and then petrol was poured over him before setting him on fire.” Jaspreet died on the spot. SSP Narinder Bhargav reaffirmed the arrest of all the accused -Jashan Singh, Gurjeet Singh and Raju Singh.

“Jaspreet’s elder brother, Kulwinder Singh, had eloped with Jashan’s sister, Rajo Kaur, about two and a half year ago and later got married. The couple stated living in Budhlada, about 30 km from the city and had not visited their parents’ houses even once after getting married. They also have a one-year-old son. As per information gathered from the family of Jashan, Jaspreet would off and on tease him (Jashan) and his family about this marriage and would say Kulwinder will return and start living with them soon,” SHO said.

According to the sources the girl’s family was disappointed with the wedding and had not permitted the couple to return to the area after marrage. They further asserted that intermittent teasing by Jaspreet may have led the way to the unlawful act on Saturday.

Victim’s father, Surat Singh, stated that on Friday night Jashan, his cousin Gurjeet and Raju had come to their residence to take Jaspreet along with them, After he did not return, Jaspreet’s family went to a nearby police station following which a search operation was initiated that winded up with his dead body being recovered at an abandoned rice sheller. An autopsy was carried out on Sunday evening after which the body was incinerated.

Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission president Tejinder Kaur stated: “Commission deals with issues related to Dalits versus other castes, and not Dalits versus Dalits. No doubt this incident is brutal. It is a cold-blooded murder. The culprits must be punished as per law.”

President of Zamin Prapati Sangrash Committee (ZPSC), Mukesh Malaud, stated: “We only step in when crime or discrimination is related to lower castes versus upper castes. But it is a shameful act and the culprits must be punished.”

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