Hundreds join candle march seeking justice for Avtar Singh

Hundreds of people participating in a candle march taken out, seeking justice for Avtar Singh, in Jammu on Sunday. — Excelsior/Rakesh
Hundreds of people participating in a candle march taken out, seeking justice for Avtar Singh, in Jammu on Sunday. — Excelsior/Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 2: Hundreds of people participated in a candle march today, demanding justice for Avtar Singh, who was murdered over a land dispute in the Greater Kailash locality.
Carrying candles and placards that read, “Justice for Avtar Singh,” “Revenue Department, Mend Your Ways,” and “Unite Against Bureaucratic Land Mafia,” the marchers called for a swift investigation into Avtar Singh’s murder.
The march began at Baba Fateh Singh Gurudwara and saw significant participation, highlighting the community’s outrage.
Addressing the media during the march, Senior Congress leader Taranjit Singh Tony expressed disappointment with the civil administration. He criticized the administration for failing to provide a promised comprehensive report on the disputed land to Singh’s family.
Tony also criticized the investigation agencies for allegedly shielding powerful bureaucrats and their relatives. “The relatives of some bureaucrats should have been arrested by now, but that hasn’t happened. This shows that the police are not committed to a fair investigation,” Tony stated.
He appealed to the people of Jammu District to support Avtar Singh’s family, warning that the powerful land mafia, allegedly supported by top bureaucrats, could target anyone in the future. “The people of Jammu must unite against this powerful land mafia, or risk being targeted next,” Tony urged.
The candle march, which passed through major locations in the district, concluded back at Baba Fateh Singh Gurudwara.