SANGRUR: A 46-year-old man died by suicide after consuming poison on Monday after local ruling-party leaders allegedly pressured him to apologise for questioning Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the supply of “chitta”, or synthetic drugs, in his village, his family said.Gulzar Singh, a resident of Toor Banjara village in minister Cheema’s Dirba assembly constituency, was battling for his life in hospital. He was initially taken to Sangrur civil hospital and referred to Govt Rajindra hospital, Patiala; however, he was again rushed to a private hospital in Sangrur and finally shifted to DMC Hospital, Ludhiana, as his condition worsened, said Lakhvir Singh, general secretary of Krantikari Pendu Mazdur Union Punjab.Lakhvir, who recorded Gulzar’s statement on his mobile, said that more than two hours were wasted at govt Rajindra hospital as authorities informed them that they lacked some special equipment required for Gulzar’s treatment. He said, “Gulzar died at DMC on Monday late night. He was survived by three sons including the eldest one addicted to Chitta. The police told us they have registered case and arrested four persons including two members of village Panchayat. We demand that case should be registered against minister also.”The incident followed an official public meeting recently addressed by minister Cheema in Toor Banjara village to review development works. During the interaction, Gulzar asked why govt had failed to stop his son and other villagers from openly using chitta.His cousin Gurdeep Singh said two young men from the village had died of drug overdoses and Gulzar was distressed over his son’s addiction.Police personnel allegedly moved Gulzar away from the venue after he raised the issue. His family alleged that village panchayat members and other influential local leaders summoned him later that evening and pressured him to apologise publicly the next morning for confronting Cheema.Gulzar consumed aluminium phosphide tablets on Monday because of the alleged intimidation, the family said.The village sarpanch’s husband denied that he or the panchayat had harassed Gulzar or demanded an apology. He said Cheema and panchayat members had heard Gulzar patiently, assured him of efforts against drugs and offered help for his son’s treatment. He described the allegations against the panchayat as baseless.Dirba SHO Gurvinder Singh confirmed that Gulzar died late last night but did not reveal information about registration of any case in this regard and said action would follow based on medical and investigative findings.While expressing sorrow over Gulzar’s death, Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira shared a video purportedly showing Gulzar naming Cheema and others, and demanded an immediate FIR against the minister and his associates and asked if this was how AAP respected the SC community to which Gulzar belonged.Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia alleged that police pushed Gulzar aside before AAP leaders pressured him to apologise. He termed the suicide a killing and demanded an FIR against minister Cheema.SSP Ravjot Garewal, DSP Dirba Rupinder Kaur Bajwa and Minister Harpal Singh Cheema could not be contacted for comments.
