After a purported photograph of Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar with Nihang sect head Baba Aman Singh went viral on social media, Congress leader Sunil Jakhar alleged that Central agencies could be involved in last week’s murder at a farmers’ protest site near the Delhi-Haryana border.

Former Punjab Police officer Gurmeet Singh Pinky, who was dismissed from service and convicted in a murder case, and BJP leader Harwinder Garewal were also seen in the photograph.

The former Punjab Congress president has alleged that the BJP-led Centre is trying to “bifurcate society” and create a “deep state” in Punjab.

In a tweet, he said, “Modi government dealing through shady characters! Thus, the proclaimed nationalists are not just demeaning themselves but also the institution of ‘Government of India’.”

This statement from Jakhar came after Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Tuesday termed the lynching of a labourer at the Singhu border a possible conspiracy to defame the farmers’ agitation.

Jakhar also said that through his tweet, he wanted to raise the concern of the presence of a “dismissed cop” in the picture shown in the news clipping he shared and raised doubts over his involvement in the issue.

He further also appealed to the BJP to withdraw the Central farm laws.

“Negotiation must be started with the farmers,” he added.

A member from Aman Singh’s sect is the prime accused in the lynching of Lakhbir Singh – a Dalit Sikh who belonged to Cheema Kalan village in Tarn Taran district – on charges of sacrilege.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government today formed a three-member special investigation team (SIT) to probe the murder of the Dalit man. The probe was ordered on a complaint filed by the sister of the deceased who alleged that her brother was lured by some unknown persons and taken to the Singhu border.