Chandigarh: A Punjab BJP delegation led by state party president Kewal Singh Dhillon on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria, seeking urgent intervention into two incidents in Sangrur district involving the death of Gulzar Singh and alleged custodial torture of protester Mohanjeet Singh.BJP demanded registration of an FIR for alleged abetment to suicide against Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema and others in connection with Gulzar Singh’s death. It also sought an FIR against civil and police officials allegedly responsible for the detention, assault and custodial torture of Mohanjeet Singh.According to the memorandum, Gulzar Singh, a resident of Tur Banjara village in Sangrur, died after consuming a poisonous substance. BJP said Gulzar had raised the issue of the open sale of chitta in his area during a Lok Milni organised by finance minister Harpal Cheema. His family, the party submitted, had also been affected by their son’s addiction.The memorandum alleged that Gulzar subsequently faced pressure from local panchayat members to apologise for raising the issue. “More importantly, in his video before death or dying declaration he named finance minister Harpal Cheema and the persons he held responsible for the circumstances that drove him to take the extreme step,” read the memorandum.“In view of these serious allegations, it is imperative that the state govt does not allow the matter to be diluted into an ordinary case of suicide. We respectfully demand that an FIR for abetment of suicide and other applicable offences be immediately registered against finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema and all other persons named in Gulzar Singh’s dying declaration, subject to investigation and due process of law,” the memorandum read.“As the matter pertains to Harpal Cheema, who is the finance minister of Punjab, we don’t expect a free and fair investigation. Therefore, after registration of FIR, the investigation should be entrusted to an independent agency like CBI, so that there is no possibility of influence, intimidation or destruction of evidence. The dying declaration, video recordings, communications, statements of family members and other relevant evidence must be preserved and investigated in accordance with law,” it added.Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, in a post on X, questioned why Cheema’s name was absent from the FIR despite Gulzar Singh naming him. Badal urged the National Human Rights Commission and the national media to take note of the matter.Badal wrote, “What can be more significant than a dying person’s final statement? Despite Gulzar Singh explicitly naming finance minister Harpal Cheema and several AAP workers, holding them directly responsible for threatening and beating him, the FIR in the case does not mention Harpal Cheema even once. Why? Who decided to ignore the victim’s dying declaration? It’s time for the NHRC and the national media to highlight this before another innocent Punjabi loses his life for merely questioning the govt!”Meanwhile, regarding Mohanjeet Singh, the BJP memorandum alleged that he was detained after protesting the state govt’s handling of the drug menace during the chief minister’s visit.“Following his release on bail, he made serious allegations of physical abuse and custodial torture, after which he required hospital treatment,” the memorandum read.BJP sought an FIR against all civil officials who allegedly ordered or authorised his removal and police personnel found responsible for assault or torture. It also demanded the preservation of CCTV footage, medical records, custody documents, duty rosters and other evidence.
