"We Want Justice": Wife Alleges Police Snatched Body of Daljit Singh in Mansa
Paramjit Kaur seeks justice for her husband Daljit Singh in Mansa, alleging police force and illegal detentions. NHRC intervenes.
A wave of tension has gripped the Mansa district of Punjab following the suspicious death of Daljit Singh, a resident of Bhamme Kalan village. His wife, Paramjit Kaur, has come forward with harrowing allegations, claiming that the police forcibly seized her husband's body and detained several family members and villagers.
Allegations of Police High-Handedness
The tragedy began when the body of Daljit Singh was discovered on a road in the Mansa district. According to his family, Daljit had been struggling with drug addiction, and they believe his death was a direct result of drug use. However, the family has raised a more sinister possibility, alleging that his body was dumped from a vehicle.
The situation escalated when the grieving family attempted to transport the body from Bhamme Kalan to Mansa to stage a protest. Paramjit Kaur told ANI that as they were moving the body, police officers intervened and "snatched" it away from them. She is now demanding justice for her husband and the immediate release of the family members and villagers who were detained by the authorities during the incident.
Murder Probe vs. Family Claims
While the family points toward drug-related causes and the dumping of the body, the Punjab Police have taken a different stance. The authorities have officially classified the incident as a murder and are currently conducting a search to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
NHRC Intervenes
The controversy has reached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which has taken official cognisance of the case. The NHRC is investigating not only the suspicious circumstances surrounding Daljit Singh's death but also the allegations of police brutality and the detention of protesters near Ratiyanwala Chowk.
The Commission has issued a directive to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP) of Punjab, demanding an impartial investigation. The state officials are required to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within two weeks to ensure accountability.
Political Firestorm Erupts
The incident has sparked a political battle, with BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia slamming the Punjab government and the police force. Bhatia expressed deep grief over the death and launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of failing to tackle the rampant drug problem in the state.
Bhatia specifically highlighted the alleged mistreatment of the body, emphasizing the cultural significance of the turban in Punjab.
“With a very heavy heart, I want to say that the pride of Punjab is its turban, but the way Punjab Police has mistreated Daljit's body is extremely unfortunate. You have shown utter disrespect to the turban,”he stated.
The BJP leader further criticized Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal for his silence on the matter, suggesting a failure of leadership at both the state and national levels.
A Pattern of Violence
This incident is not an isolated case of unrest in the region. Mansa and other parts of Punjab have recently seen a series of high-profile tragedies, including targeted attacks on anti-drug activists. The murder of prominent activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa has previously fueled public anger, leading to frequent protests by grieving families against the drug menace and administrative failures.