Sangrur/Chandigarh: The suicide attempt by a villager in Sangrur’s Namol village, allegedly because he was intimidated for raising his voice against drugs sale in the area, has triggered another political storm in poll-bound Punjab.While opposition parties accuse AAP govt of targeting those who highlight the drugs problem, the ruling party hit back by alleging a political conspiracy and asking why opposition was defending a man who has nine cases registered against him, and convicted in four, including a drugs offence.Jagga Singh, 30, allegedly took poison outside Sangrur district administrative complex on Sunday, claiming harassment by the Namol sarpanch and his associates after he posted a video alleging drug sale. He is under treatment at Govt Medical College, Patiala, whose medical superintendent Prof Vishal Chopra said Jagga was conscious, his vital signs were stable, and he was responding to treatment.Jagga and his aides alleged that the dispute began early September after he uploaded a video claiming synthetic narcotics, or ‘chitta’, was being sold near his home. He claimed that the sarpanch and his armed aides threatened him into deleting the video. Even after he complied, they barged into his house, assaulted his family, dismantled CCTV cameras and took away the digital video recorder, Jagga alleged, adding that he was forced to attempt suicide because police ignored his complaints.SI Yuvesh Garg of Cheema police station, however, said an FIR was registered against the sarpanch and seven others on Jagga’s complaint. No arrests have been made as the investigation is on, he said.Some Namol villagers gheraoed the police station on Monday, opposing action against the sarpanch and others, and warning against politicising the matter.Sangrur SSP Ravjot Kaur Grewal on Monday said Jagga’s statement would be recorded once doctors permit. She said nine criminal cases had previously been registered against Jagga and he was convicted in four, including three Excise cases and an NDPS case. Trial is on in four cases and he was acquitted of a rape charge, she added.According to the SSP, Jagga later uploaded another video threatening self-harm unless police acted on his terms. A preliminary inquiry initiated for attempts to coerce or blackmail public servants through threats of self-harm.Police said the panchayat made counter-allegations that Jagga’s claims were politically motivated as local representatives were trying to stop him from engaging in illicit drug trade.Coming soon after the suicide of Sangrur villager Gulzar Singh, who was allegedly intimidated for questioning the Punjab finance minister over the drugs menace, the Jagga controversy sparked a political skirmish.BJP MP Tarun Chugh alleged that Jagga was targeted because he raised his voice against the drug mafia. “Erase the evidence and eliminate those who speak the truth — is this the AAP model?” he tweeted, blaming CM Bhagwant Mann for Jagga’s condition. In New Delhi, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia accused Mann of turning the state into “drugs wala Punjab”.Leader of Opposition in Punjab, Partap Singh Bajwa, posted on X: “When a young man who raises his voice against the drug menace allegedly feels so helpless that he attempts to end his own life, what is the reality behind govt’s claims of a drug-free Punjab?”AAP Punjab chief and minister Aman Arora hit back by asking why opposition parties were backing someone who has been convicted in drugs cases. He alleged a political conspiracy to tarnish the image of AAP govt, and pointed out that Namol village has taken a united stand against drugs.Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema added, “Before turning a tragedy into a political spectacle, opposition leaders should have the courage to face the ground reality in Namol village. The person whom they are defending is himself accused by villagers of being a drug dealer.”
