NCSC TEAM VISITS GULZAR SINGH’S HOUSE IN SANGRUR

TEAM REVIEWS GOVERNMENT ACTION, ASSISTANCE BEING PROVIDED TO VICTIM’S FAMILY, FOUR ARRESTED IN GULZAR SINGH SUICIDE CASE; SIT CONDUCTING DETAILED PROBE

Naresh Kumar/Sangrur

A team of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) on Thursday visited the house of Gulzar Singh in Turbanjara village of Sangrur district, who allegedly died by suicide after being threatened and humiliated by a village sarpanch and other local Aam Aadmi Party leaders following his questioning of Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the alleged sale of drugs in the village.

The NCSC team met members of the bereaved family and sought details of the circumstances leading to Gulzar Singh’s death. It subsequently held a meeting with senior district administrative and police officials to review the action taken by the Punjab government and the assistance being provided to the family.

Son seeks action against Finance Minister Cheema

Gulzar Singh’s son told the NCSC team that his father had been allegedly threatened and humiliated after he questioned Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about the sale of drugs in the village. He also demanded that Cheema be sent to jail in connection with the case. The son alleged that police personnel from five to six districts were deployed and his father’s last rites were conducted forcibly. He claimed that the body was not brought home and was taken directly to the cremation ground, preventing the family from seeing the face of the deceased.
He further alleged that the administration had assured the family of financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh and a government job for a family member at the time of the incident.

According to him, the cremation ground was heavily cordoned off by police during the last rites.

Deputy Commissioner Sangrur Poonamdeep Kaur informed the NCSC team that the state government had assured the family of Rs 5 lakh compensation and a government job for one member of the family. The Sangrur SSP informed the NCSC team that four accused had so far been arrested in connection with the Gulzar Singh suicide case, while efforts were underway to trace and arrest the remaining accused.
The SSP said a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), was conducting a detailed investigation into the case.

He assured the NCSC team that strict action would be taken against those found responsible in accordance with law.