Family alleges forced cremation of Dalit man Gulzar Singh in Punjab

The family of Sangrur suicide victim Gulzar Singh on Thursday alleged that his cremation was carried out “forcibly”, as opposition parties renewed their demand for a CBI probe into his death.

National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Chairman Kishor Makwana and senior BJP leaders visited Gulzar’s family in Turbanjara village in Sangrur district.

The family alleged that the administration conducted the cremation without its consent and that the body was taken directly to the cremation ground instead of being brought home for rituals.

Gulzar’s son Shahbaz, in a purported video released on Thursday, claimed that the cremation was carried out “forcibly” and that his brother was “misled” into cremating the body.

“We appeal that until justice is done, we will neither hold ‘bhog’ nor collect his ashes,” he said.

His other son, Lakhwinder Singh, also alleged that the cremation was conducted without the family’s consent. The family demanded action against Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and all those allegedly named by Gulzar before his death.

Gulzar, a 47-year-old Dalit man from Dirba, died on Monday night after allegedly consuming poison. His family has claimed that he was harassed and subjected to casteist slurs after questioning Cheema about the supply of drugs in the area during an event on Sunday.

The NCSC said Makwana told the family that Gulzar had been raising his voice against the drug menace and was threatened and intimidated, which led him to take the extreme step.

The commission also said the family had sought strict action against those allegedly involved in threatening Gulzar and demanded security for them.

Opposition parties, including the BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, demanded Cheema’s dismissal and a CBI inquiry into the death.

BJP Punjab chief Kewal Singh Dhillon, national vice president Manpreet Singh Badal and former state presidents Sunil Jakhar and Ashwani Sharma met the family and assured them of assistance. Dhillon said the BJP had demanded a CBI inquiry.

Congress Punjab chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring alleged that the AAP government had humiliated the family by conducting the last rites against its wishes. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal also alleged that the family’s consent was not taken and that the cremation was hurried.

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha criticised the Mann government over the drug situation in Punjab, alleging that synthetic drugs, or “chitta”, were widely available and that home delivery of intoxicants was taking place.

On the way to the village, BJP leaders alleged that AAP workers surrounded Dhillon’s vehicle and raised slogans against the BJP, asking it not to “do politics over the dead”.

Five people have so far been booked under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for abetment of suicide and relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.