Police on Tuesday booked five residents of Toor Banjara village for allegedly abetting the suicide of a 47-year-old Dalit man and hurling caste-based insults at him. The case was registered following the victim’s death at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMC) in Punjab’s Ludhiana.
During the event, the victim publicly questioned Cheema about the local drug problem. Angered by the police visit, the village panchayat allegedly treated the incident as an insult. Five villagers—Baljit Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Vicky Singh, Gona Singh, and Baljinder Singh—allegedly subjected the victim to casteist abuse. Distressed by the alleged harassment and humiliation, the victim consumed poison shortly after. He was initially taken to the Civil Hospital in Sangrur, then referred to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala.
Due to a reported lack of ICU beds at Rajindra Hospital, his family moved him to a private hospital before he was referred to DMCH, Ludhiana, where he succumbed during treatment.
The complainant said that police officials later visited their house to enquire about drug-related issues.
Earlier, the victim’s son had publicly warned that local village members and Cheema would be responsible if any harm befell his father. Trouble began on Sunday when Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema visited the village to inaugurate development projects, according to the complaint lodged by the victim’s son. Baljit Singh then summoned the victim to his house on Monday to issue a public apology before the panchayat.
