Chandigarh

The family of 47-year-old Gulzar Singh, who allegedly died by suicide after raising the issue of drugs in his village, has refused to perform further religious rites, including the bhog ceremony, until those named as responsible for his death are arrested. His son Lakhwinder has demanded the arrest of Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, while accusing the AAP Government and police of “forcibly cremating Gulzar without the family’s consent”.

The fresh allegations have added to the controversy over Gulzar’s death, with the family claiming that the administration used heavy police presence to take control of the last rites despite assuring them Rs 20 lakh in financial assistance and a government job. Lakhwinder alleged that the police personnel from five-six districts were deployed, the body was taken directly to the cremation ground instead of being brought home, and the family was not allowed to see Gulzar’s face or even put clothes on him.

“The government forcibly carried out the last rites without our consent,” Lakhwinder alleged, adding that the promised job and assistance had not materialised. He also alleged that police pressured the family and that his younger brother was misled into giving a statement that facilitated the cremation.

The family’s allegations centre on Gulzar’s complaint about the drug menace at a September 6 meeting at the village gurdwara, attended by Cheema. According to his mother Jaswant Kaur, Gulzar approached the Minister and complained that his son was consuming drugs daily, asking how he could obtain them if the drug menace had been controlled. Cheema allegedly asked him to send his son to him.

The family alleged that gurdwara president Sukha Conductor accused Gulzar of consuming drugs himself and pushed him out, leading to an argument in the Minister’s presence. Police subsequently took Gulzar away and later dropped him home, following which, the family alleged, panchayat members began pressuring him to apologise.

His wife was allegedly told by the sarpanch that Gulzar had done wrong and would have to seek forgiveness. His sister-in-law alleged that some men later came to the house, abused the family and threatened to blacken Gulzar’s face, parade him through the village and force him to apologise.

Jaswant Kaur alleged that they later claimed “Deputy Sahib” had summoned Gulzar. After learning about the alleged plan to publicly humiliate him, Gulzar went to Dirba and allegedly consumed aluminium phosphide tablets on September 7.

Two videos recorded around the incident have become central to the family’s allegations. In one, Gulzar, after consuming the poisonous substance, says he had gone to raise the issue of “chitta” and links his action to the drug menace. In another, recorded during treatment, he allegedly names Cheema, the sarpanch, the sarpanch’s husband and others, holding them responsible for his death.

Gulzar was treated in Sangrur, Patiala and Ludhiana before he died at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital. His family has now said it will not collect his ashes or perform the bhog until action is taken against those it holds responsible. The allegations have also triggered opposition demands for criminal action against Cheema and others.

Here is a tight, combined-opposition report under 400 words, with the strongest common charge in the lead and the leaders’ quotes retained.

Opposition Closes Ranks, Demands Cheema’s Arrest, CBI Probe

The Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal on Thursday stepped up attacks on the Bhagwant Mann Government over Gulzar Singh’s alleged suicide and the family’s claim that his cremation was conducted forcibly, with the Opposition demanding action against Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, a CBI probe and accountability for those allegedly responsible. Congress also accused the government of using police pressure to deny the family its right to conduct the last rites with dignity.

Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring accused Cheema of being responsible for the circumstances leading to Gulzar’s death and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of humiliating the family by allegedly getting the cremation conducted against its wishes. “Adding insult to injury. Criminally callous, arrogantly insensitive,” Warring said, warning that “Punjabis in general and the Dalit brotherhood will never forget and never forgive this.”

Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Partap Singh Bajwa demanded Cheema’s immediate arrest and dismissal from the Cabinet, an FIR against those responsible for the alleged forcible cremation and an independent, time-bound probe. Questioning the heavy police presence during the cremation, Bajwa cited the case of government official Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, who allegedly named the then Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar before dying by suicide. An FIR was registered, Bhullar arrested and a chargesheet filed.

“If action could be taken against a Minister in that case, why is Harpal Cheema being treated differently?” Bajwa asked.

Congress leaders Charanjit Singh Channi and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa also met Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and raised the Gulzar case, besides concerns over drugs, law and order and alleged police excesses. Channi said recent incidents showed that the law-and-order situation in Punjab was worrying and alleged that people were being denied the freedom to raise their voice against the government. He also raised alleged police mistreatment of a man who displayed a black flag at a Chief Minister’s programme and alleged political protection to gangsters.

Punjab BJP leader Parminder Singh Brar said the alleged government-backed cremation raised questions over “abuse of power” and denial of basic dignity, and sought Cheema’s resignation. Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon, accompanied by Sunil Jakhar, Ashwani Sharma and Manpreet Singh Badal, met Gulzar’s family and demanded a CBI inquiry.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal accused the government of turning Punjab into a “police State”, alleging a pattern of torture and suicides linked to dissent and the drug issue. “All this green pen has done is silence the voice of dissent and loot the resources of the State,” Sukhbir said, also alleging that Chamkaur Singh was tortured in Dhuri police lock-up before consuming poison.