Sangrur: A 46-year-old man in Punjab’s Sangrur district died by suicide after allegedly facing pressure to apologise for questioning Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about the drug menace in his village. His family has alleged that the pressure left him deeply distressed.
Question over drugs sparks controversy
Gulzar Singh, a resident of Toor Banjara village in the Dirba Assembly constituency, had raised concerns about the availability of “chitta”, a term commonly used for heroin, during a public meeting attended by Cheema.
Singh reportedly told the minister that his son was struggling with drug addiction and questioned why the authorities had failed to stop the supply of drugs in the village. His family later alleged that he was asked to apologise for raising the issue.
Singh subsequently consumed a poisonous substance and was taken to hospital. After treatment at hospitals in Sangrur and Patiala, he was shifted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana, where he died.
Police begin investigation
Police have begun investigating the circumstances surrounding Singh’s death. Reports said a case was registered against some villagers and several people were arrested, although the precise allegations and legal findings remain subject to investigation.
The village panchayat has denied pressuring or harassing Singh and described the allegations as baseless. Cheema has also denied responsibility, saying he listened to Singh’s concerns and directed police to act against those involved in the drug trade.
The death has triggered political criticism and renewed attention on Punjab’s continuing struggle with drug addiction, while questions remain over the events preceding Singh’s death.