Akalis in dock over killings of two Dalit youth in last two days

CHANDIGARH: The killing of Dalit youth by the liquor mafia in state has once again exposed the Shiromani Akali Dal as the alleged perpetrators of heinous crime.

The state goes to polls in less than 90 days, and no party can afford to upset the Dalit community. Punjab has highest concentration of Dalits in India, 34 per cent.

The development comes a day after the murder of another Dalit youth, Sukhchain Singh in Mansa , who was killed by the liquor mafia is the same brutal fashion by Akali workers.

Congress and Aam Admi Party are cashing on the situation and plan to scale up attack against the Akalis.

On Tuesday, Punjab Congress strongly condemned the murder of another youth by the liquor mafia, accusing the Badal government of spreading Jungle Raj in the state.

"The murder of a youth, just a day after a similar killing in Mansa, was symbolic of the total anarchy prevailing. Just the day before yesterday, a dalit youth, Sukhchain Singh, was brutally murdered in Mansa. And now, another youth, 28- Manish Luthra, has been done to death by a group of assailants from the liquor mafia in Jalandhar," says Former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.

Congress leaders are demanding the immediate arrest of those involved in The murder, they pointed out that, like Sukhchain Singh, he was also murdered for standing up against the liquor mafia, which was controlled by the Badals.

Akalis fielded Union minister for Food Processing Industry Harsimrat Kaur Badal to put forth party's defence on the matter.

"Each and every person responsible for this heinous crime in which a limb of the victim was also chopped off, would be brought to book," Ms Badal said.

"Three persons had been arrested in the case, asked the Mansa police to investigate the case threadbare and ensure action against any other person involved in this inhuman act. The State will not allow the emergence of any gangs in the liquor trade and anyone indulging in any such activity should be arrested and proceeded upon as per the law of the land."

The Bathinda MP said while her heart went out to the grieving family whose son was attacked by liquor smugglers, she said the matter should not be politicised to score brownie points. “Even as the State is proceeding against the guilty, various political persons are trying to vitiate the atmosphere by making it appear as a dalit versus upper caste clash even though initial reports suggest it is a case of inter-gang rivalry between liquor smugglers”. She said far of there being any political interference in the case as was being alleged by the opposition, the Mansa police was pro-actively pursuing the wrong doers and bringing them to justice.