PATIALA: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday sought a comprehensive status report from the Punjab government on the death of Dalit labourer Gulzar Singh, who allegedly consumed poison after being pressured to apologise for confronting state finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the spread of synthetic heroin, or chitta.A division bench, hearing a public interest litigation seeking a CBI probe, questioned how Cheema could be implicated in the case at this stage, said petitioner-in-person Ravinder Singh Sampla, who is also chief spokesperson of the Shiromani Akali Dal’s Scheduled Caste Wing. Sampla drew the bench’s attention to Gulzar Singh’s video-recorded dying declaration, which allegedly named minister Cheema and the village sarpanch as responsible for driving him to take the extreme step.The bench directed the state to place its ongoing inquiry on record by October 6 and instructed authorities to conduct an exhaustive investigation. The matter will next be heard on that day.The PIL sought the transfer of the investigation arising from FIR No. 204, registered at Dirba police station in Sangrur, from the Punjab Police to the CBI or another independent agency.The FIR, filed under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, named five local people, including the village sarpanch, but omitted Cheema.According to the petition, Gulzar Singh confronted Cheema during his September 6 visit to Toorbanjara village in Sangrur to lay the foundation stone for development works. Gulzar questioned him about the circulation of chitta, citing his son’s addiction.Police personnel reportedly visited Gulzar Singh’s home that evening to question him about his remarks. The plea alleged that panchayat members later intimidated him and subjected him to caste-based slurs. Gulzar Singh allegedly consumed poison on September 7 after being summoned before the panchayat to tender an unconditional apology.He was taken to hospitals in Sangrur, Patiala and Ludhiana, where he died on September 8. His family alleged that authorities hurriedly cremated him without their consent. The family demanded action against everyone named in his dying declaration.Congress, BJP and SAD have demanded Cheema’s dismissal or resignation and an independent probe. A Congress protest march towards his Chandigarh residence on Tuesday was met with police water cannons. National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman Kishor Makwana also visited Singh’s family in Sangrur.The High Court is expected to take up the matter further after the state’s status report is placed on record on October 6.
