Punjab Man Dies After Consuming Poison, Family Alleges Pressure Over Drug Question

Sangrur, September 8 : A 46-year-old man from Punjab's Sangrur district allegedly died by suicide after consuming poison, with his family claiming that he was pressured by local ruling-party leaders to apologise for questioning Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the spread of synthetic drugs, commonly known as “chitta”, in his village.

 

 

The deceased, Gulzar Singh, was a resident of Toor Banjara village in Cheema's Dirba Assembly constituency. According to a report by The Times of India, Gulzar consumed poison on Monday and was taken to several hospitals before he died late that night at a private hospital in Ludhiana.

 

 

The incident reportedly followed a public meeting in the village where Cheema was reviewing development works. During the meeting, Gulzar allegedly questioned the minister about the government's efforts to control the sale and use of “chitta”. He reportedly told the minister that his eldest son was addicted to the drug.

 

Gulzar's cousin, Gurdeep Singh, said he was deeply distressed over his son's addiction and the deaths of two young men in the village allegedly due to drug overdoses.

 

 

 

The family has alleged that after the meeting, some panchayat members and influential villagers called Gulzar and pressured him to publicly apologise for questioning the minister. They claimed that he later consumed aluminium phosphide tablets.

 

However, the allegations have been denied by the husband of the village sarpanch. He said neither the panchayat nor its members harassed Gulzar or demanded an apology. He also claimed that Cheema had listened to Gulzar's concerns, assured him of action against drugs and offered help for his son's treatment.

 

 

According to Lakhvir Singh, general secretary of the Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union Punjab, police have arrested four people, including two panchayat members. He also demanded that a case be registered against the finance minister.