Mansa Tensions Escalate as Police Seize Coffin of Local Man Amid Drug Death Allegations
Tensions have escalated in Punjab's Mansa district after police intervened to seize the coffin carrying the body of 34-year-old Daljit Singh. The incident occurred on Tuesday as his family and local residents were traveling from Bhamme Kalan village to join an ongoing protest in Mansa city, located 15 kilometres away. According to family members, Daljit died of a drug overdose, whereas police officials have termed the incident a murder without providing detailed clarification.
The family was en route to register their protest at the demonstration site dedicated to Parvinder Singh Jhota, an anti-drug activist who was shot dead on October 13 after confronting a local pharmacist allegedly selling illicit drugs. During the procession, a large contingent of police officers intercepted the group, managed to secure the coffin holding Daljit's body, and departed after scuffling with protesters who attempted to block their path.
Family Claims Father Missing After Refusing Signatures
Following the police action, Daljit's family reported that they have been left with no information regarding the whereabouts of his body. Furthermore, the family and neighbours stated that Daljit's father, Jarnail Singh, a retired veterinary pharmacist, has been missing since Tuesday night. Local residents claimed that police brought Jarnail home late that evening to seek signatures from him and Daljit's wife, Paramjit Kaur, authorizing the immediate cremation of the body.
Neighbours recounted that when the family refused to sign the authorization documents, police forcibly took Jarnail away despite his pleas to remain at home. Paramjit, along with her two children aged 5 and 14, later navigated rural lanes to reach the Jhota protest site in Mansa city to evade further police pressure.
Police Statements and Official Inquiry
In response to the allegations, Deputy Inspector General of Police Harjeet Singh stated that Daljit's postmortem examination was conducted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bathinda, with the official report still awaited. DIG Singh explicitly denied that Jarnail Singh was in police custody. Additionally, Senior Superintendent of Police Vibhav Chaudhary was reported by PTI as stating that Daljit's body had been dumped by the roadside by unknown individuals, and three suspects had been rounded up for questioning. Police maintained that their actions against the gathering were intended to preserve law and order after personnel were assaulted.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken prima facie cognizance of the circumstances surrounding the death and the subsequent police action. The commission issued formal notices to the Chief Secretary of Punjab and the Director General of Police, requiring a comprehensive Action Taken Report to be submitted within two weeks. Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi also visited the family at the protest site to offer condolences, questioning the police conduct and alleging human rights violations.
