Abohar: Amit Doda surrenders, liquor baron remains elusive

Amit Doda, one of the accused in Abohar Dalit murder case, has surrendered before police even as the liquor baron and Akali leader Shiv Lal Doda remained elusive.

“Amit Doda surrendered before SP Headquarters Abohar last night,” said DIG Ferozepur Range, Amar Singh Chahal. However, he said Shiv Lal Doda, the main accused in the case, has not been arrested as of now. “Shiv Lal Doda continues to remain elusive,” Chahal said, adding that efforts are being made to nab him.

The Punjab Police had issued a lookout circular against Shiv Lal Doda and his nephew Amit Doda, who are accused in the case, on Saturday. The duo has been booked for conspiracy in connection with the murder of a 27-year-old Dalit man, Bhim Sain, whose limbs were chopped off by suspected henchmen of a liquor baron in Abohar on December 11.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress had accused the Punjab Police of “going soft” on the Akali leader and his nephew due to pressure from the ruling SAD-BJP government.

The police have so far arrested 13 persons in the case.

Meanwhile, accusing the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of patronising Shiv Lal Doda, Congress leader Sunil Jakhar has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation into the case, monitored by a Punjab and Haryana high court judge.

Jakhar, who represents Abohar in the Assembly, said he would approach other parties including SAD’s ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), seeking their support for a CBI probe into the Abohar murder case. He also appreciated the stand taken by Union minister Vijay Sampla and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Som Prakash who had reportedly rejected the theory of state investigating agencies describing the Abohar murder as the result of “gang” war between two groups.

“We demand a CBI probe into the Abohar murder case which should be monitored by Punjab and Haryana High Court judge,” Jakhar said.