Punjab man dies by suicide after raising drug issue to Minister Harpal Singh Cheema; 5 booked for caste abuse

A daily wage worker from Sangruru allegedly consumed poison and died by suicide a day after he publicly questioned Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the easy availability of heroin or 'Chitta' in the state.

Gulzar Singh, 46, a resident of Dirba constituency, was taken to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital DMCH Ludhiana, on Monday, where he was declared dead.

The suicide comes after local party leaders allegedly pressured the man to apologise for the public criticism of the minister.

In a video recorded before his death, Gulzar, who was reportedly unemployed, said ”Finance Minister Cheema had visited the village on Sunday to hear public grievances, where I raised the issue of the easy availability of ‘chitta’ (heroin). My son is addicted to drugs and has sold household belongings to sustain his addiction”.

He alleged that the day after he criticised the minister, some people went to this house and threatened him for publicly raising the issues. They told him that the village sarpanch and the panchayat members wanted to meet him near the agricultural fields.

“If I die, they all will be responsible for it,” Singh said in the video.

The police have registered a case against Baljit Singh, Balinder Kaur, the village sarpanch, her husband Baljinder Singh alias Raj, and a panchayat member, Vicky Singh, The indian express reported.

The FIR was registered under Section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) alongside relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Baljit Singh reportedly summoned the victim to his house to force an apology.

The victim reportedly consumed aluminium phosphide tablets on maonday shortly afterwards.

Gulzar’s cousin Gurdeep Singh said that two men from the village had died of drug overdose and that Gulzar was distressed over his son’s addiction.

The village sarpanch’s husband meanwhile denied that he or the panchayat was involved in harassing Gulzar .

He said that they listened to the man and assured him action would be taken and that his son would be helped.

The man's death also raised questions about the emergency car he was given. Gulzar was reportedly taken to Civil Hospital in Sangrur, from where he was referred to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. He was then brought back to Sangrur as his condition deteriorated and then admitted to a private hospital before her again shifted to DMCH.

Local BJP leader Daaman Bajwa alleged that almost seven hours were taken to shift Gulzar from one hospital to another. “It is shocking that government hospitals in Punjab did not have adequate arrangements to treat a patient who had consumed poison. Perhaps his life could have been saved had he received timely treatment,” Bajwa said.

Cheema, who spoke to the Indian Express, meanwhile denied any role in the man's death.

“Yes, I went to Toor Banzara village on Sunday as I regularly meet people in my constituency. Gulzar Singh raised the issue of drug availability and told me that his son was a drug addict. I listened to his grievance and even asked the police to take appropriate action against those involved in the supply of drugs,” Cheema said

“I do not know what happened on Monday or under what circumstances he consumed poison. It is a matter of serious investigation. The police are looking into it, and action will be taken against anyone found guilty as per law,” he added.

“The man questioned me, and I listened to him. It is unfortunate that he lost his life,” the finance minister added.