Family and Congress Leaders Stage Road Blockade Over Ludhiana Murder
Two days after the brutal murder of Congress block president Parminder Tiwari in Takhran village, his family members, accompanied by Congress party leaders, workers, and supporters, staged a major protest at the Machhiwara-Kohara road on Tuesday. The demonstration, held at Malwa Chowk, saw participants demanding the immediate arrest of the main accused in the case.
Last Rites Withheld Until Arrest Made
The family has firmly refused to perform the last rites of the deceased until the principal accused is apprehended and the actual circumstances behind the murder are fully brought to light. This decision has intensified the protest, with family members reiterating their stance publicly.
Speaking to mediapersons on behalf of the family, Pawan Kumar, brother-in-law of Parminder Tiwari, strongly refuted claims by authorities that the murder was linked to a one-and-a-half-year-old dispute over panchayat land. "Parminder Tiwari had no role in this dispute," Kumar asserted, alleging that the murder was part of a larger conspiracy. He demanded a thorough probe into the matter, urging that the killers be arrested, questioned, and those behind the incident identified.
Protest Gains Widespread Support
The protest at Malwa Chowk blocked the Machhiwara-Kohara Road, drawing support from various quarters:
- Members of farmer unions joined the demonstration.
- Representatives of other political groups participated.
- Shopkeepers in the Malwa Chowk area kept their establishments closed for the second consecutive day in solidarity.
- Local residents continued to show support as public anger mounted over police inaction.
Protesters raised slogans against the Punjab government and the police administration, alleging failure in arresting the accused. They demanded that both the main accused and alleged conspirators be taken into custody promptly.
Police Response and Investigation Updates
Ludhiana police commissioner Swapan Sharma confirmed that multiple teams have been constituted to arrest the accused. The main accused, identified as Vijay, remains at large, with a police team dispatched to Bihar to apprehend him. Sharma also noted that the family has not allowed a postmortem examination of the body so far, complicating investigative procedures.
Sources revealed that a video has surfaced showing the main accused roaming around the crime scene with an axe approximately one hour before the murder. This development has fueled public frustration, with anger mounting over the police's failure to arrest the main accused more than 50 hours after the incident.
Congress Leaders Issue Stern Warnings
Addressing the gathering at Malwa Chowk, Congress's Samrala halqa in-charge Raja Gill highlighted that two days had passed since the murder, yet the main accused remained free. "The family has decided not to perform Parminder Tiwari's last rites until the accused is apprehended," he stated.
Gill warned that the Congress high command has issued instructions to intensify protests if police fail to arrest the killers and alleged conspirators. He threatened that the police commissioner's office would be surrounded and city roads blocked if arrests are not made swiftly.
Other prominent Congress leaders, including former minister Gurkirat Singh Kotli, district Congress president Lakhvir Singh Lakha, and Sahnewal area in-charge Vikram Singh Bajwa, also addressed the protest. They accused the police administration of completely failing to prevent such killings and demanded immediate action in the case.
The protest underscores growing tensions in Ludhiana, with political and public pressure mounting on authorities to resolve the murder investigation and deliver justice for the victim's family.
