India

Punjab: Five Booked for Abetment of Suicide After Dalit Man Dies Following Alleged Caste Abuse

By Muskan

Police in Punjab have registered a case against five residents of Toor Banjara village for allegedly abetting the suicide of a 47-year-old Dalit man and subjecting him to caste-based insults. The case followed the man's death at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in Ludhiana.

The FIR was filed under Section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

According to a complaint filed by the victim's son, the incident began on Sunday when Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema visited the village to inaugurate development projects. During the event, the victim publicly questioned Cheema about drug-related problems in the area. Following this, police officials visited the victim's house to inquire about drug issues, which reportedly angered the village panchayat, who viewed the police visit as an insult.

The complaint names five individuals—Baljit Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Vicky Singh, Gona Singh, and Baljinder Singh—who allegedly hurled casteist abuse at the victim. Baljit Singh reportedly summoned the victim to his house the following Monday, demanding he issue a public apology before the panchayat.

Distressed by the alleged harassment, the victim consumed poison shortly afterward. He was first taken to the Civil Hospital in Sangrur, then referred to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. Due to a reported unavailability of ICU beds there, his family shifted him to a private hospital before he was eventually referred to DMCH in Ludhiana, where he died during treatment.

The victim's son had earlier publicly stated that village members and minister Cheema would be held responsible if any harm came to his father.

Dirba deputy superintendent of police Rupinder Kaur Bajwa said an investigation is underway and efforts are being made to arrest those accused.