Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab: Farmer kills self at DC office, BKU blames minister

MANSA: A farmer allegedly committed suicide by consuming a poisonous substance at the Mansa deputy commissioner’s office on Monday. In a suicide note he left behind, he accused the Punjab revenue minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar of visiting his village on August 15, when he was not feeling well and had tested Covid-19 positive, said a farm body. Balbir Singh (55) of Kotda Kalan village in Mansa, in the handwritten suicide note, demanded strict action against Kangar and Mansa DC for accompanying the minister. Balbir, who was village president of newly formed farmer organisation Bharti Kisan Union Mansa, had reached the deputy commissioner office complex on Monday to lodge his protest where he is learnt to have consumed a poisonous substance. The people at the office informed the police, which took him to the civil hospital from where he was referred to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, where he was declared brought dead. Gurpreet Kangar, after presiding over an Independence Day function at Mansa, visited village Kotda Kalan to inaugurate government smart school. He was accompanied by MLA Nazar Singh Manshahia, DC, SSP and many others. Bharti Kisan Union Mansa president Bogh Singh claimed that the district administration had ensured assembly of a large number of persons, including some students, against the guidelines, putting life of many in danger. “Many persons were not wearing masks. When the government is making big announcements for people not to come out, why did the minister come when he was not feeling well and not even was wearing mask? We demand Rs 10-lakh compensation, a job to a member of the family and waiver of loans against the family. We will not allow the post-mortem till our demands are met,” he said. Balbir is survived by wife, a son, daughter in law and two grand-daughters. The family owned 3 acres of land. His son, Amandeep Singh, said they wanted justice for the death of his father. Mansa deputy commissioner Mohinder Pal, who is in quarantine, said, “The minister knew about his medical condition. It is here that he got tested and report was received late on August 15. If we had known that the minister is positive, there was no point in attending any function”. Mansa senior superintendent of police (SSP) Surendra Lamba said, “We have seen the suicide note. It will be looked into by speaking to the family members of the farmer about his health condition to know if he was stressed. Police are looking into the issue. Anything could be said only after the statement of the family is recorded,” he said. Minister Kangar, who is in isolation, was not available for comment.

The Times of India

2020-08-18

Chandigarh