Dalit girl accused of rape at gunpoint: FIR not filed even after 4 days, complaint filed with SP
A Dalit girl has been accused of being raped at gunpoint in a village in the Mahoba city Kotwali area. The victim alleges that two young men entered her home and committed the crime at gunpoint. The accused are also accused of stealing ₹2 lakh (approximately $200,000) of wedding-related money and gold and silver jewelry. The victim, accompanied by Samajwadi Party leader Hari Singh Verma, reached the SP’s office to complain that an FIR had not been filed and a medical examination had not been conducted even four days after the incident. Woman alone at home, two young men entered According to the victim, the incident occurred around 1:30 pm on September 14th. Her parents and brother had gone to work. She was alone at home. It is alleged that two young men from the same village entered her house armed with a pistol. One of the men held a pistol to her temple and threatened to kill her. The other young man then raped her. The victim alleges that after the incident, the accused took away ₹2 lakh in cash and gold and silver jewelry purchased for the wedding. The wedding money was saved over 25 years. According to the family, they had saved ₹2 lakh through hard labor over 25 years. The woman and her brother were to be married in January, and the money and jewelry were kept safe for this purpose. The victim’s family alleges that when they went to the accused’s house to complain after the incident, they were subjected to casteist slurs and threatened with death. FIR and medical examination not completed even after four days The victim alleges that even four days after the incident, the police had not registered a case based on her complaint. She had not even been medically examined. Following this, she went to the Superintendent of Police’s office with SP leader and former Block Chief Hari Singh Verma and demanded action. Given the seriousness of the case, the Superintendent of Police has directed the City Superintendent of Police to investigate and take strict action within two days. The victim’s family is demanding strict action and the death penalty against the accused. Irfan Khan Pathan | Mahoba Courtesy: Hindi News
AAP’s Dalit Paradox: Ambedkar On The Wall, And A Minister Facing Grave Questions
Gulzar Singh’s death has pointed to major loopholes in the state’s high-decibel campaign ‘Yudh Naheyan Virudh’ (War On Drugs). Chandigarh; Punjab is home to the largest proportion of Dalits in its population among all states, and some recent developments have put the politics concerning them on the boil, giving the Opposition ammunition to fire at the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). A party that displays Dalit icon and eminent jurist Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s portraits in its offices is now in the dock for a Dalit man’s death. And it’s linked to the drug crisis and rural distress, which have emerged as major issues on their own, six months ahead of the state polls. Gulzar Singh was a resident of Toor Banjara village that fell under the Dirba assembly constituency, from where Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema is the MLA. This area falls in Sangrur, the home district of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Gulzar Singh’s death has raised questions over the state’s high-decibel campaign ‘Yudh Naheyan Virudh’ (War On Drugs). On September 6, 2026, Harpal Cheema, a Dalit himself, was present in Toor Banjara when Gulzar Singh confronted him publicly and asked why drugs were openly being sold in the village. Instead of supporting Gulzar Singh for providing information about drug smuggling in the village, the minister, staff, and locals allegedly moved him aside. Later that evening, Gulzar Singh was allegedly summoned and subjected to severe pressure, intimidation, and demands to issue an unconditional public apology for questioning the minister. Distressed, Gulzar Singh consumed a poisonous substance on September 8 and died. Before his death, he recorded a video statement (dying declaration) naming minister Cheema and local panchayat members regarding the intimidation he faced. The minister has denied any role, and a case has been registered against some local leaders. The death triggered massive statewide political outrage and demands for accountability. He’d said his son was a drug addict. He not only told the minister publicly that his village was stressed due to the availability of drugs but also said three young men had died due to addiction. Opposition parties had already dubbed the anti-drugs campaign as mere propaganda, and are now accusing the AAP of double standards regarding promises made to the Dalit community and protecting their rights. Police charged the sarpanch, her husband, and three others with abetment to suicide and under the SC/ST Act, but Harpal Cheema is not named in that FIR, despite the man having made a dying declaration in a viral video clearly naming him as the reason behind his death. The political fallout is larger than one FIR. The Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal have all called the FIR a “cover-up”. AAP calls it “vulture politics”. Another AAP minister, Laljit Singh Bhullar, had resigned from the cabinet on March 21, 2026, following allegations that he abetted the suicide of a state warehousing official. The Opposition wants action against Harpal Cheema along those lines. Opposition Attacks AAP Over “Promises Not Kept” Since Dalits form 32 per cent of the population, parties made a beeline to console Gulzar’s family. The AAP government did swing into action and announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh besides promising employment to a member of his family. But the Opposition wants Cheema’s resignation and action against him. “Sangrur is the district that elected the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister to the Assembly. The deceased, Gulzar Singh, complained in front of Harpal Cheema that ‘chitta’ (heroin) was being sold in his locality, that three children in his neighbourhood had already died of drug overdose, and that his own child was also taking drugs. Instead of investigating the accused and acting against the drug mafia, the Finance Minister sends his goons, pressure is put on the family, and Gulzar Singh is pushed to the point of suicide,” BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Chugh alleged. Congress’s Punjab affairs in-charge Sachin Pilot also put Cheema in the dock. “The point at which the state of Punjab stands today is a matter of concern for the entire country,” he said, “The Chief Minister of this government had said we will end the drug problem in three months. Today four and a half years have passed, and more drugs are being sold than before.” “Today a poor Dalit daily-wage earner, Gulzar Singh, took his own life. Which human being takes his own life except when hope is already finished? That man’s crime was that he spoke about his children’s drug problem. He committed the crime of asking a question, and under pressure, he was forced to take his own life,” he added. “We have no caste enmity with Harpal Singh Cheema, but he is the Finance Minister,” he further said. “A man is taking his life and making a video saying he is taking his life with his own hands because of that person. Does the law not even require that there should be an investigation?” he asked, reminding AAP of its poll promise to appoint a Dalit MLA as Punjab’s Deputy Chief Minister. Punjab Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa of the Congress said AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is trying to “hide Harpal Cheema’s sins”, as the party had earlier dropped another cabinet minister, Laljit Singh Bhullar, who was also accused of abetment to suicide. “There cannot be two laws in this country. District manager (of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation) Gagandeep Singh Randhawa had also died by suicide. In his dying declaration, he named a cabinet minister, Laljit Singh Bhullar. The minister was arrested and has been in jail for seven months. Gulzar Singh clearly stated that Harpal Cheema was responsible for his death. Five people were arrested, but Harpal Cheema was not arrested,” he noted. “Harpal Cheema is Kejriwal’s adopted son. We will ensure his resignation. We will come onto the streets. From the Punjab and Haryana High Court, there will be his resignation, there will be his arrest, and he will also go to jail,” Partap Singh Bajwa said.
Literary window to Dalit life, ideology at book fair
Lucknow: Where stories travel across languages, generations and social backgrounds, literature on caste and equality is drawing the attention of young readers. From autobiographies documenting discrimination, to work tracing the history of marginalised communities, Dalit literature has emerged as a significant section at the Gomti Book Festival. Books such as Omprakash Valmiki’s ‘Joothan’, Bama’s ‘Karukku’, and Sharankumar Limbale’s ‘The Outcaste’ are finding readers alongside work, including B R Ambedkar’s ‘Who Were the Shudras?’ and ‘The Untouchables’, as well as literature on the Dalit Panthers movement. The collection also features writings of social reformer Jyotirao Phule, including ‘Gulamgiri’ and ‘Shetkaryacha Asud’, along with works by authors and thinkers who have examined caste, identity, dignity, social justice and resistance. For many students, buying these books is an opportunity to understand experiences different from their own. “I wanted to read ‘Joothan’ because it gives a first-person account of caste discrimination and shows why equality cannot remain only an idea,” said Amitesh Pal, a student. Another student, Jahnvi Singh, said she bought ‘Who Were the Shudras?’ to understand the historical development of the caste system and its impact on people’s lives, adding that students should read such books to develop a better understanding of society. “Among the books on caste and social justice, ‘Annihilation of Caste’ is drawing strong interest from young readers, with around seven copies being sold each day. Students are increasingly picking up such books because they want to understand caste, equality and social reform through the writings of those who challenged existing social structures,” said a publisher at the festival, Kamla Kumar. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Six police officers suspended in Firozabad after a pregnant Dalit woman died during police action
The death of a 28-year-old pregnant Dalit woman in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, has led to serious allegations against the police. The family alleges that during a scuffle with police who had arrived to take her husband for questioning in a theft case, the woman was pushed or kicked in the stomach, causing her health to deteriorate. Six police officers have been suspended in connection with the case. According to a report in Maktoob Media, the incident occurred in Labhaua village, under the jurisdiction of the Shikohabad police station. According to Gaurav Kumar, the husband of the deceased, Anjali Verma, a police team led by Sub-Inspector Dharampal Singh arrived at their home around 11:45 pm on Sunday night. The police had come to arrest Gaurav in connection with a theft at a local grocery store. According to the family, Anjali, who was approximately eight and a half months pregnant, resisted the arrest of her husband. The family alleges that during this time, the police officers pushed or kicked Anjali in the stomach, causing her to fall. The police then took Gaurav with them. Following the incident, Anjali’s condition deteriorated and she was taken to the government hospital in Shikohabad. On Monday morning, she gave birth to a son, but her condition worsened after delivery. She was taken to a private hospital in Firozabad, where doctors declared him dead. The newborn’s condition was also reported to be critical and he was referred to Agra for further treatment. Following the incident, protests erupted in the village, with villagers demanding action against the police officers. Based on a preliminary investigation, Firozabad Superintendent of Police Aditya Langhe suspended six police officers: Sub-Inspectors Dharampal Singh and Satyapal Singh, Head Constables Mohan Singh and Arvind Kumar, and Constables Bhavtosh Kumar and Kuldeep Kumar. The responsibility for conducting an impartial investigation into the matter has been assigned to Shikohabad’s Additional Superintendent of Police and IPS officer Jaibind Kumar Gupta. However, the police have denied the allegations of assaulting the woman. According to the official statement from Firozabad police, Gaurav was brought to the police station on the evening of September 13th for questioning in connection with case number 724/2026 and was released to his family the following morning after questioning. Police say Anjali was taken to the hospital by her family for delivery, where she died during delivery. Police also stated that the post-mortem revealed no external injury marks. Political leaders have also demanded action in the case. Samajwadi Party National General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman, after meeting the victim’s family, staged a protest at the Shikohabad police station, demanding a murder case against the allegedly responsible policemen and a fair investigation. Azad Samaj Party chief and MP Chandrashekhar Azad also demanded an investigation into the case, legal action against those found guilty, and financial assistance to the family. Courtesy: Hindi News
UP: Allegations of discrimination against Dalit engineers in the power department, SC/ST Commission demands high-level investigation from CM Yogi
Following a complaint from the UP Power Officers Association, the SC/ST Commission has taken a firm stance, recommending an impartial investigation to the Chief Minister regarding the alleged double standards faced by Dalit engineers in the power department. Lucknow: The issue of alleged discrimination against Dalit engineers working in the Uttar Pradesh Power Department (DISCOM) is gaining momentum. Baijnath Rawat, Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Caste/Tribe (SC/ST) Commission, has written a letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on this serious issue, demanding a high-level and impartial investigation into the matter. In the letter, written on Wednesday, Rawat specifically mentioned a memorandum submitted by UP Power Officers Association President RP Kane and other officials. The association alleged that Dalit engineers have been facing persistent discrimination for several years and that service rules are being selectively enforced in certain cases. However, this letter from the Commission’s Chairman does not independently confirm these allegations. Nevertheless, the letter urges the Chief Minister to investigate the facts stated in the association’s memorandum and appeals for appropriate and strict action based on the findings of the investigation. Regarding this controversy, the UP Power Officers Association issued a statement stating that it has submitted detailed records of more than a dozen Dalit engineers working in various state power companies to the Commission. The organization claims that different criteria have been applied in the cases of these officers. To prove its serious allegations, the association has presented several documents to the Commission. Association President RP Kane, Acting President Awadhesh Kumar Verma, Vice President PM Prabhakar, and office bearers Harishchandra Verma and Mukesh Babu expressed hope that an investigation will soon be initiated to establish the true facts. The organization clarified that its primary objective is not to create any conflict with the government or the department, but to protect the rights of its engineers under constitutional and legal provisions. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit youth sacrificed on the altar of casteism: Fact-finding report on Kosa honor killing exposes nexus between police and feudal lords
Brutal honor killing of Dalit youth in Kosa, Janjgir-Champa: Fact-finding report reveals sensational nexus between police and feudal lords Chhattisgarh: On September 15th, a state-level seminar was organized at the XISA Center in Raipur against hate speech, hate campaigns, and targeted violence. As part of this collaborative effort, a detailed report on the murder of a Dalit youth in Kosa, Chhattisgarh, was released by Harsh Mander, National Convenor of Caravan-e-Mohabbat, and in the presence of the fact-finding team. This multi-organizational report exposes the dark truth of a brutal honor killing that occurred under the jurisdiction of the Mulmula police station in Janjgir-Champa district. This horrifying incident occurred in Kosa village of Janjgir-Champa district, where 25-year-old Dalit youth Amit Kumar Bhandari suddenly went missing on the night of June 27, 2026. Two days later, on June 29, 2026, his body was found lying face down in a deserted grove near the village’s Amha pond. The deceased’s head and chest bore fatal injuries and clear marks of brutality, indicating a premeditated murder. According to the independent investigation team’s fact-finding report, the murder was rooted in an inter-caste love affair. The deceased Amit Bhandari (Satnami community) had been in a love relationship with Santoshi Singh, a Kshatriya woman from the same village, for the past seven to eight years. Angered by this relationship, the girl’s family had previously threatened Amit. This brutal murder was a direct result of the prevailing upper-caste dominance in society and the violent feudal mentality against Dalits. The report raises serious questions about the functioning of the local police and their caste biases. For two months after the incident, the police attempted to protect the real culprits and cover up the case. The police and cyber cell of Mulmula police station illegally detained and brutally beat the deceased’s elder brother, Amrit Bhandari, his wife, Lakshmi, and friend, Vinod. The police attempted to discredit the deceased’s sister-in-law and threatened her with electrocution, pressuring her to falsely confess to the murder. The case gained momentum following the activism of Dalit rights organizations, field visits by a fact-finding team, and an intensive social media campaign. Growing public pressure forced the police chief to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Finally, on September 9, 2026, the police uncovered the murder and arrested Santoshi Singh, her brother Bajrang Singh, and Pappu Singh Kshatriya. The police investigation established that Bajrang Singh, upon seeing Amit, who had come to meet Santoshi on the night of June 27th, lost his temper and brutally murdered him with a shovel. Pappu Singh and Santoshi then conspired to dispose of the body and mislead the police. For more facts and detailed context related to this incident, please see the “Kosa Words” report below. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
The High Court has sought a report from the Punjab government on the death of a Dalit laborer, raising demands for a CBI investigation.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken a firm stance on the suicide of a laborer in Sangrur who confronted Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the drug issue, and demands for a CBI investigation have gained momentum. New Delhi: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday summoned a detailed status report from the Punjab government regarding the suicide of Dalit laborer Gulzar Singh. The court scheduled the next hearing for October 6th and directed the state government to submit complete details of the investigation. While emphasizing the need for a fair investigation, the division bench also questioned how, based on the current circumstances and facts, the state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema could be implicated in the case. The court’s direction came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the chief spokesperson of the Scheduled Caste wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal. The petitioner has questioned the functioning of the Punjab Police and demanded that the investigation be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or another independent agency. An FIR in this matter is currently registered at the Didba police station in Sangrur district. The case has been filed under Section 108 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, naming five local residents, including the village sarpanch. According to the petition, the entire controversy began on September 6th when Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema visited Turbanjara village in Sangrur to lay the foundation stone for development projects. During this event, Gulzar Singh expressed his anguish over his son’s drug addiction and directly questioned the minister about the spread of ‘chitta’ (synthetic drugs) in the area. It is alleged that following this incident, police personnel arrived at Gulzar Singh’s home that evening and questioned him. Following this, the panchayat members threatened him and used casteist slurs against him. On September 7th, the Panchayat reportedly summoned Gulzar Singh and put him under intense pressure to apologize unconditionally to the minister. Hurt by this humiliation and pressure, he consumed poison. The next day, on September 8th, he died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Ludhiana. His family alleges that the administration hastily cremated his body without their consent. The family and the petitioner claim that Gulzar Singh, in his video-recorded dying declaration, had blamed Minister Cheema and the village sarpanch for his death. This incident has created a major political storm across Punjab. The Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Shiromani Akali Dal have united and are continuously demanding the resignation of Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. Recently, Congress leaders organized a large protest march towards the minister’s residence in Chandigarh, which the police had to disperse using water cannons. Meanwhile, National Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairman Kishore Makwana also visited Sangrur and met with the victim’s family, assuring them of justice. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
TN Dalit scholar in Malaysia fears Rohith Vemula-like fate over funds
A Dalit PhD scholar from Tamil Nadu in Malaysia, Bharathidasan Raman, alleges a scholarship dispute is risking his academic future. He has invoked Rohith Vemula’s memory, fearing similar institutional pressure, a claim the TN government disputes. Dalit Scholar Alleges PhD at Risk Over Scholarship Row A Tamil Nadu Dalit research scholar pursuing his PhD in Malaysia invoked the memory of Rohith Vemula in an emotional appeal, alleging that a prolonged dispute over an overseas education scholarship has now put his research and academic future at risk. Bharathidasan Raman, a native of Usilampatti in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, and a PhD scholar at the National University of Malaysia, said in a tearful video that the delay in receiving financial assistance under the Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship has left him struggling to continue his research and facing the possibility of losing his academic enrolment. The scholar alleged that, after he raised concerns over the non-release of scholarship funds, officials began questioning his research requirements and the materials he had sought funding to purchase. He said the situation had created pressure at a stage when his PhD itself was at risk. Invoking Rohith Vemula, whose death in 2016 became a national flashpoint over caste and the treatment of Dalit students in higher education, Bharathidasan said he feared facing similar institutional pressure. The comparison is being made by Bharathidasan himself; the circumstances of his case and Vemula’s case are not identical. Political Row Erupts, Govt Disputes Claims The allegations triggered a political confrontation in Tamil Nadu, with Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin backing the scholar and demanding that his education not be disrupted. DMK president MK Stalin also intervened and offered support for the continuation of Bharathidasan’s education. The Tamil Nadu government, however, disputes the scholar’s account of the scholarship issue. Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu said the government had approved Bharathidasan’s scholarship for three years and had already released financial assistance. According to the government’s version, further payments were linked to the submission and verification of expenditure records and supporting documents. Bharathidasan disputed that explanation and maintained that he submitted the required documents. ‘More Than Money’: Academic Future in Jeopardy The latest allegations of harassment have not been independently established, and the government has not accepted the student’s account. The controversy is significant because the Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship is intended to enable students from disadvantaged communities to pursue postgraduate and research education abroad. Bharathidasan said the consequences are already extending beyond finances and threatening his research career. For a Dalit student who says he fought his way into overseas research, the message in his latest appeal is stark: the scholarship dispute, he says, is no longer merely about money; it is about whether he can remain in the PhD programme he worked to reach. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Courtesy : Asianet News Note: This news is originally published on https:/asianetnews.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bihar family performs teen’s ‘last rites’ after she marries Dalit boyfriend
PATNA: In a shocking display of anger over an inter-caste marriage, a family in Purnia allegedly performed the symbolic funeral of their 18-year-old daughter after she eloped with her boyfriend and married him in court. The family prepared an effigy carrying her photograph, took out a funeral procession through the locality and performed symbolic last rites after the woman admitted in a local court that she had married the man of her choice. The incident took place at Chapay village in the Town police station area of Purnia on Tuesday. Riya, a Part-I college student allegedly eloped with 24-year-old Minal Kumar on September 8 and married him in a court. Her father, Manoj Kumar Goswami, had subsequently approached Maranga police and filed a missing complaint, fearing that his daughter had been abducted. According to villagers, Riya and Minal had been in a relationship for around three years. Their houses are reportedly only about 100metres apart. The two initially saw each other while Riya travelled to college and gradually began meeting and talking. Two days ago, police reportedly recovered Riya from Delhi and produced her before court, where her statement was recorded. When she reportedly spoke in favour of Minal and said she had married him voluntarily, her father was deeply upset. He then decided to symbolically end his relationship with his daughter through a funeral ceremony. By Monday night, preparations for the unusual ceremony had begun. According to the villagers, the family made an effigy of Riya and prepared a poster carrying her photograph. Villagers were invited the next morning to participate in the procession. The effigy was then carried out from the house on a bier in a funeral procession through the village. People reportedly raised the Hindu funeral chant “Ram Naam Satya Hai”, before Manoj performed the symbolic cremation. The family also said it intends to perform rituals associated with death, including shraddha and pind-daan between the 10th and 13th days. Manoj said the family had already arranged Riya’s marriage with a man from Bhagalpur who works as a government teacher. According to him, the match had been finalised for Rs 6 lakh and the wedding was scheduled for November. “We had started preparing for the marriage. In the meantime, my daughter ran away and married of her own choice. Now what will I tell the other family? How will I face them?” he said. Expressing his anguish, Manoj added, “I educated my daughter, brought her up and she has left us with our heads bowed. May God ensure that no one gets a daughter like this. We are no longer in a position to show our faces to anyone.” The family has now said that Riya is “dead” to them and that they will have no relationship with her. Villager Awadhesh Kumar said members of the community had previously attempted to resolve the dispute. Both sides were reportedly called to a meeting and asked to settle the matter socially. “We had held a meeting earlier and called both sides. We told them to come to a social-level solution. We asked them to live as they had earlier and separate the two, but that did not happen,” Awadhesh said. He added that the community wanted young girls to understand what could happen if they took such a step. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
HC seeks status report in Dalit labourer suicide case, asks how can Cheema be implicated
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 Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights