Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday sought a comprehensive status report from Punjab govt by Oct 6 in connection with the death of Dalit labourer Gulzar Singh, who allegedly consumed poison after being “pressured“ to apologise for confronting state finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the spread of “chitta“ (synthetic drugs).
A division bench gave the directions on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Shiromani Akali Dal’s Scheduled Caste wing chief spokesperson seeking a CBI probe into the matter.
The bench directed the state to conduct an exhaustive investigation but also questioned how Cheema could be implicated at this stage.
The next hearing is on Oct 6.
The PIL has sought transfer of the investigation of the FIR registered at Dirba police station in Sangrur from Punjab Police to CBI or another independent agency. The FIR, filed under Section 108 of BNS and Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, named five locals, including village sarpanch.
The petition claims Gulzar Singh confronted Cheema during his Sept 6 visit to Toorbanjara village in Sangrur to lay foundation stone for development works, questioning him about “chitta“ circulation while citing his son’s addiction.
Police personnel allegedly visited Gulzar Singh’s home that evening to question him about his remarks. The petition alleges that panchayat members intimidated him and subjected him to caste-based slurs. Gulzar Singh allegedly consumed poison on Sept 7 after being summoned before the panchayat to tender an unconditional apology. He died at a Ludhiana hospital on Sept 8. His family alleged authorities hurriedly cremated him without their consent and demanded action against everyone named in his dying declaration.
The petition says Gulzar Singh’s video-recorded dying declaration allegedly named minister Cheema and village sarpanch as responsible for driving him to take the extreme step.
The case has led to a political storm, with Congress, BJP and SAD demanding Cheema’s resignation, a Congress protest march towards the minister’s Chandigarh residence meeting with police water cannons and National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman Kishor Makwana visting Gulzar’s family in Sangrur.
Courtesy : TOI
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