The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday ordered a fresh post-mortem of Daljit Singh, a resident of Bhamme Kalan village in Mansa district, by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) on Wednesday.
His family has maintained that he died of a drug overdose, alleging that narcotics were easily available in villages across the region. It was submitted that the residents of the area were concerned about the prevailing drug menace and wanted to take out a peaceful procession with Daljit’s mortal remains; however, the police administration was allegedly committing atrocities against the protesters and arresting them. The court made it clear that before cremation, all family members of the deceased must be brought to the cremation ground under adequate police protection, ensuring that no injury, intimidation or harassment is caused to them and that their sentiments are duly respected.
The body of 35-year-old Daljit Singh was found in a field near Ramananda village on Tuesday morning.
Police have registered a criminal case and said it was a murder. The state’s counsel, on the other hand, had told the court that his post-mortem examination had already been conducted and doctors had noticed injuries on the body. The counsel said that before his death, the deceased had met with an accused, who allegedly beat him up. The court took note of the prevailing situation in Mansa and said that two different versions are emerging about his death.
His body was subsequently found on Tuesday last in a Kalan village locality.
The court further ordered that the mortal remains be cremated in Chandigarh, only in the presence of close family members.
His sister had moved the high court seeking post-mortem examination by PGIMER and a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into his death.
