Farmer Enters Vidhan Sabha Premises to Highlight Missing Nephew Case
In a dramatic incident on Monday, Sarabjit Singh, a farmer from Singhpur village in Pilibhit, drove his vehicle into the Vidhan Sabha premises in New Delhi. According to police sources, Sarabjit stated that his action was intended to draw attention to the case of his missing nephew, Harmandeep Singh, a 21-year-old BTech student at Guru Teg Bahadur Institute of Technology, who went missing on April 1. He hoped that a high-ranking official at the Vidhan Sabha would address the matter and assist in the search efforts.
Police Investigation and Family Claims
Delhi Police is not taking Sarabjit's claims at face value and has secured an eight-day remand to corroborate his statements. During interrogation, he made several erratic claims, including assertions that he possesses a "maharaja's sword." However, no weapon was found on his person or inside his SUV at the time of the incident. Police are currently analysing call detail records and internet protocol detail records to gain further clarity on his recent activities and contacts.
Pilibhit police conducted a preliminary enquiry and found no offensive background or links to any extremist outfit. Sarabjit's family, including his brother Avtar Singh, claims that he is mentally disturbed and has been under treatment for nearly a decade. They provided a medical prescription from Shahjahanpur as evidence. Puranpur circle officer Prateek Dahiya confirmed that police examined Sarabjit's medical papers and verified the family's claim about his treatment in Shahjahanpur.
Violent Behavior and Distress Over Missing Nephew
Since his arrest, Sarabjit has exhibited extremely violent behavior, according to police reports. He spent the night shouting and shaking the lockup grills, indicating high levels of distress. His family revealed that he was close to his nephew Harmandeep and became increasingly agitated as the search made no progress. Delhi Police traced Harmandeep's last known location to Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, but despite extensive searches by police and family members, he remains missing.
Harmandeep's father, Harpreet Singh, who is Sarabjit's brother-in-law, stated that they last spoke to Harmandeep at 2 PM on April 1, and he later spoke to his mother at 8:30 PM the same day. "He seemed normal in both calls, but later that day he went missing," Harpreet said. Harmandeep's flatmate returned on April 2 to find their Hari Nagar flat locked, with calls going unanswered. After breaking in, he informed the institute, which alerted the family.
Family Dynamics and Sarabjit's Actions
The family had initially withheld information about Harmandeep's disappearance from Sarabjit due to his depression, but he eventually learned about it online. On April 5, Sarabjit reached the gurdwara in Nangal where the family was staying and had a heated argument with them for not informing him earlier. "He also had a tiff with gurdwara members. We later went to trace Harmandeep, leaving Sarabjit in a room at the gurdwara. He left for Delhi on his own without informing anyone, and his phone was switched off," Harpreet added.
To navigate Delhi, Sarabjit paid two taxi drivers Rs 2,000 to act as guides, as he was unfamiliar with the city roads. After leaving the Vidhan Sabha, he reportedly asked the cabbies about the route to Parliament, indicating he had initially intended to target Parliament. While the cabbies are being questioned, investigators say no evidence of their involvement in the plot has surfaced so far.
Mental Health History and Family Cooperation
Avtar Singh detailed Sarabjit's mental health history, noting that he has been suffering from a psychiatric disorder since 2011. He received treatment at a hospital in Amritsar in 2012, consulted a neurologist in Lakhimpur, and underwent psychiatric observation in Bareilly. At present, he was under treatment with a private medical practitioner in Shahjahanpur. Avtar suggested that Sarabjit's act on Monday could have been driven by his mental condition. "I will cooperate with police and provide all information about Sarabjit, who is innocent," he said, adding that Delhi Police had not contacted him so far.
The family later received a call from Delhi Police about the incident, highlighting the ongoing investigation into Sarabjit's motives and actions. As the probe continues, authorities are balancing the need to verify his claims with considerations of his mental health status.
