Family refuses to cremate murdered Punjab Dalit youth

Chandigarh: The family of a 20-year-old Dalit youth, who was brutally murdered in Punjab`s Mansa district, on Wednesday refused to cremate the body till his missing leg was found and his assailants arrested.

Sukhchain Singh, the murdered Dalit youth, was said to have been a member of one of the gangs engaged in the illicit liquor business in the Mansa area, about 250 km from here.

He was allegedly murdered by members of a rival gang on Monday night. The accused chopped off his leg and took it away.

The young man`s family said his attackers belonged to upper caste landlord families and the Punjab Police was not taking action against them because they wielded considerable clout.

The victim`s father Resham Singh said his son was threatened by the rival gang in the past.

Another Dalit man, Bhim Tank, was brutally attacked in another liquor gang war last year in Fazilka district. His limbs were chopped off and he later died of his injuries.

A prominent ruling Akali Dal leader, Shiv Lal Doda`s men were alleged to have been involved in the attack that took place at his farmhouse.