Political row over Daljit Singh's death in Mansa, SSP says awaiting viscera report
Opposition parties are raising questions against the government by calling Daljit Singh's death in Mansa a drug overdose, while the police maintain that the exact cause will be clear only after the viscera report arrives.
Political rhetoric has intensified over the death of Daljit Singh, a resident of village Bhamme Kalan in Mansa district. Leaders of opposition parties, citing an alleged post-mortem report, have claimed that he died of a drug overdose.
Mansa SSP Vaibhav Chaudhary stated that while morphine and benzodiazepine might have been confirmed in Daljit Singh's urine test, the report does not cite this as the cause of death. He said the exact cause of death will become clear only after the chemical analysis report of the viscera is received. If the chemical report confirms death due to drugs, the sections in the FIR will be changed accordingly.
According to the police, following the recovery of Daljit Singh's body on October 27, a murder case was registered based on his father's statements and three persons were arrested.
On the other hand, Daljit's wife Paramjit Kaur and sister Amarjit Kaur claim that his death occurred due to an overdose of drugs. Dissatisfied with the police action, the family approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, following which a second post-mortem was conducted at PGI Chandigarh on November 4. The report of this second examination is still awaited.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, sharing an alleged AIIMS Bathinda report, alleged that the government and police are trying to suppress the matter by giving a drug death the shape of a murder. Punjab Congress leader Pargat Singh and 'Waris Punjab' leader Lakha Sidhana also accused the police of ignoring the family's statements.
Meanwhile, the family and other people staged a dharna demanding justice and tried to block the road, following which the police used mild force to disperse them.
Nothing has yet been proved in court.
Key developments
- The body of Daljit Singh from village Bhamme Kalan in Mansa was recovered on October 27.
- The police registered a murder case on the father's statements and took three persons into custody.
- The family claimed death was due to drug overdose and got a second post-mortem done at PGI Chandigarh through the High Court.
- Opposition leaders shared an alleged report accusing the government of suppressing the case, while the SSP asked to wait for the viscera report.
