Mansa Youth Death: High Court Steps In, Orders Fresh Autopsy in Chandigarh
Punjab and Haryana HC intervenes in the suspicious death of Daljit Singh, ordering a fresh autopsy at PGIMER Chandigarh amid family protests.
In a significant judicial intervention, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has stepped into the controversial Mansa youth death case, ordering a fresh post-mortem examination for Daljit Singh, a resident of Bhamme Kalan village. The family of the deceased arrived in Chandigarh on Wednesday to comply with the court's directives for the re-autopsy and the subsequent final rites.
Judicial Intervention and PGIMER Autopsy
The court's decision came after Amarjit Kaur, the sister of Daljit Singh, filed a petition seeking a comprehensive investigation. She requested a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and an independent re-autopsy to be conducted at the prestigious Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh.
Responding to the petition, the High Court directed that the fresh post-mortem be carried out at PGIMER. Furthermore, the court specified that the final rites should take place at the Sector 25 cremation ground in Chandigarh.
A Family in Grief and Conflict
Speaking to the media upon their arrival in the city, Jarnail Singh, the father of the deceased, emphasized that the family is cooperating fully with the administration to honor the judicial mandate.
"The reason we are here is that we came following the High Court's orders, so we will also have the cremation here... We say that if it happens in the village, that is a good thing; it should be in the village. But since the court has directed Chandigarh, we had to come by following the orders," Jarnail Singh stated.
Regarding the second autopsy, Jarnail Singh noted that while one had already been performed, they are abiding by the legal process initiated by the petition. He urged authorities to complete the medical and legal procedures swiftly to avoid further delays.
The Sequence of Events: From Bhamme Kalan to Court
The tragedy began on October 27, when Daljit Singh was discovered unconscious near his home in Bhamme Kalan village, Mansa. He later passed away, with his family suspecting that a drug overdose was the cause of death, pointing toward the wider drug menace affecting the region.
Allegations of Police Brutality
The situation escalated between October 28 and 29, when family members, villagers, and members of the panchayat attempted to transport Daljit's body to an ongoing anti-drug protest in Mansa. However, the procession was intercepted by police at Ramdittewala Chowk.
The family alleged that the police used a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd and forcibly seized the body. Following this, Paramjit Kaur, Daljit’s wife, demanded justice and the release of detained relatives and villagers. She further alleged that the initial autopsy conducted in Mansa was performed without the family's knowledge or consent.
Seeking Justice Amidst Protests
The move to the High Court was a result of the family's deep distrust of the initial proceedings in Mansa. By seeking a CBI probe and a neutral medical examination at PGIMER, the family hopes to uncover the exact circumstances surrounding Daljit's death and hold any responsible parties accountable.