Sangrur: Tension escalated in Sangrur after police allegedly removed the family of 23-year-old Sanamdeep Singh and Congress leader Rajinder Deepa from a six-day protest outside the mortuary of the Civil Hospital, where they had been seeking justice in the youth’s suicide case.
According to the family, Sanamdeep Singh, a Dalit youth from village Kanoj, died by suicide on September 25 after allegedly consuming a poisonous substance. The family had held the village sarpanch and three others responsible and had been demanding action against them.
The family began a day-and-night protest outside the hospital mortuary on September 26, seeking registration of a case. Police subsequently registered a case against four people, including the sarpanch, but the family continued the protest, demanding the addition of provisions of the SC/ST Act and the arrest of the accused.
On Thursday afternoon, police allegedly removed the protesting family members, Rajinder Deepa and other protesters from outside the mortuary. The family alleged that they were taken to Dhuri police station.
The deceased’s mother was seen protesting the police action, alleging that she was being denied the opportunity to see her son and perform his last rites. According to the family, police subsequently conducted the post-mortem and cremated the body at a local cremation ground instead of in village Kanoj, while heavy police deployment was maintained.
The family alleged that the action prevented them from attending the final rites and having a last glimpse of Sanamdeep.
DSP Sangrur Dalvir Singh Sidhu said police had registered a case on September 28 against village sarpanch Deep Singh Bawa, his brother Gurinder Singh Goga, former member Harbans Singh and Paramjit Kaur under Section 108 and Section 3(5) of the BNS. He said the investigation was continuing.
The DSP said the family had continued the protest despite repeated requests from police to end it. He said the administration had received communications from the SMO regarding deterioration of the body and that it was necessary to conduct the post-mortem and cremation.
According to the police, notices issued by the chief medical officer and SMO Sangrur regarding the post-mortem were allegedly refused in the presence of Duty Magistrate Jagdeepinder Singh. Police said some villagers were present during the post-mortem and cremation.
The police alleged that the protest was obstructing the proper handling and final rites of the body and said the cremation was carried out to ensure that the deceased’s remains were treated with due dignity.
