Murdered man was daily wager from Tarn Taran, father of three

Lakhbir Singh was separated from his wife and children for the past five years and stayed with his sister in Cheema Kalan village. He was last seen in the village on Tuesday.

The wife and three daughters of Lakhbir Singh, who was lynched at Singhu border, have received financial help of Rs 1 lakh from two Sikh activists. (File)

Lakhbir Singh, the 35-year-old man who was killed at Delhi’s Singhu border Friday allegedly by a group of Nihang Sikhs, was a daily wage labourer in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district and never involved with the farm protests, according to a family member and the sarpanch of his village.

They said Lakhbir was separated from his wife and children for the past five years and stayed with his sister in Cheema Kalan village. He was last seen in the village on Tuesday.

“Around five years ago, we had started Lakhbir’s treatment for drug addiction at the Government hospital in Tarn Taran. His family was very disturbed due to this. We fear that he might have been lured into committing some misguided act (at Singhu),” Avan Kumar, the village sarpanch, said.

Read | Nihangs key suspects after Dalit Sikh man tortured, lynched at site of farm protests

“There should be an investigation into whether someone took him to the Singhu border and put him in a situation where he got murdered,” Lakhbir’s brother-in-law, Sukhchain Singh, said.

A security person keeps vigil at Singhu Border near the site of the farmers’ protest, in New Delhi, Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. (PTI)

Local residents said Lakhbir and his sister Raj Kaur, whose husband died a few years ago, were the adopted children of ex-serviceman Darshan Singh and his wife, who were “respected in the village”.

Explained | Lynching as religion, caste simmer; wary political leaders silent

“The foster parents died several years ago. Lakhbir got married 15 years ago. He had three daughters and one physically disabled son, who died two years ago. His wife has been staying with her brother for the past five years due to a matrimonial dispute,” Kumar, the sarpanch, said.

Brother-in-law Sukhchain Singh said: “His drug addiction was the reason for the dispute. He had not seen his three daughters for the past two years. He lived a low-profile life. He wasn’t in touch with many people.”

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But the big question now, say Lakhbir’s family and local residents, is how did he manage to reach Singhu. Taran Taran DySP Sucha Singh said Lakhbir “was the only person from the village to go to the Singhu border” at this time.

Editorial | Those who killed a Dalit Sikh at site of farmers' protests must face the full force of law

“We know that he had no money. On Tuesday, he had demanded Rs 50 from his sister, who borrowed the amount from neighbours. We also know that Lakhbir went to the local grain market for work. Nobody saw him after that. Today morning, we saw his brutally mutilated body on TV,” Kumar, the sarpanch said.

“He’s never been to the Delhi border since the start of the farmers’ agitation. I had taken two jathas (protest marches) to Singhu. But he never accompanied us. People in the village used to avoid him,” Kumar said.

Referring to TV footage of Friday’s incident, Lakhbir’s brother-in-law said: “He (Lakhbir) never wore the religious attire of Nihangs. How did he get those clothes that were seen on his body?”

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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