SC panel summons Punjab home secretary, DGP over chopping of limbs

Chandigarh, Dec 16 The National Scheduled Castes Commission has summoned Punjab's home secretary and police chief to appear before it here on Thursday over the chopping of limbs of two people at a farmhouse of a ruling Shiromani Akali Dal leader near Abohar town.

Commission vice chairman Raj Kumar Verka issued notice to the home secretary and the director general of police to appear before the commission at the UT Guest House in Chandigarh, a spokesman for the vice chairman said on Wednesday.

A Dalit youth, Bheem, bled to death after his hands and legs were chopped off allegedly by goons of local liquor baron and Akali Dal leader Shiv Lal Doda at the latter's farmhouse near Abohar, around 300 km from here.

The hand and legs of another man, Gurjant, were also chopped off but he was admitted to a hospital in Amritsar, where he continues to be in the ICU.

Family members of the victims said both were called to Doda's farmhouse to settle issues related to liquor trade.

The victims, as they entered the farmhouse, were taken captive and then their hands and legs were chopped. The accused in the incident are all absconding.