• In Abohar, Dalits observe ‘black’ Lohri
Members of Bhim Tank Murder Action Committee continue their chain fast on Wednesday. Tribune photo

Our Correspondent

Abohar, January 13

After skipping the New Year’s Day celebrations over the killing of Bhim Tank at liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda’s Ramsara farmhouse on December 11, the Dalit community today observed “black” Lohri.Even otherwise, people had a black day here as there was no power supply till 5 pm due to some technical snags.

An emissary of Supreme Court advocate and leader of the AAP breakaway group Prashant Bhushan met the Tank family and offered to provide free legal aid to pursue the murder case.

Bahujan Samaj Morcha representative Prof Harnek Singh visited Abohar and expressed his condolences. He told the media that he would take out a book about the incident that has been condemned by human rights organisations globally.

The Bhim Tank Murder Action Committee continued its chain fast today with the batch of Satish, Nony, Sanjay, Vicky and Ravi Pihwal observing a day-long fast at the dharna site in Sant Nagar.

Bhim’s father Kapoor Chand said that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal found time to conduct a Sangat Darshan nearby, but could neither spare a few minutes to console the affected families here nor did he tell the police administration to intensify the drive to arrest Shiv Lal Doda and the other accused.

“Even after 68 years of independence, Dalits remain soft targets by the mafia if they don’t follow their orders,” he said.http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/in-abohar-dalits-observe-black-lohri/183228.html