Dharna over Zira youth’s suicide enters third day; five booked for abetment
FEROZEPUR : Various farmers’ organisations continued their protest for third day in Zira subdivision of the district on Tuesday over the suicide by a 25-year-old youth due to alleged political interference in a land dispute case.
Police on Tuesday registered a case under Section 306 (abetment for suicide) against Rachpal Singh, Sarabjit Kaur, Jagtar Singh, Gurjeet Singh and Nishan Singh.
The family of Jatinder Singh of Kacharbhan village in Zira and some farmer unions are on a dharna in front of the Zira police station along with the body since Sunday when he hanged himself.
They did not allow post-mortem of the body.
But the protesters refused to lift the dharna demanding action against Inderjit Singh Zira, a former minister and father of local Congress MLA Kulbir Singh Zira, accusing him of getting Section 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC) imposed on the disputed land, barring their entry into it.
“Jatinder went into depression after our rivals recently got imposed the CRPC Section on nine-acre land which we have been tilling for the past seven decades. The ruling party leaders are responsible for my son’s suicide and the police did not initiate any action,” claimed Mahinder Singh, the victim’s father.
“Instead of registering a case against the accused, the police along with leaders of the ruling party cane-charged and hurled stones at us after which we had to shift the dharna to Kacharbhan village. Several sustained injuries in the melee,” said Mahinder.
Inspector general (IG Ferozepur range) Gurinder Singh Dhillon denied charges of laxity on the part of police or use of force against protesters.
MLA Kulbir Singh Zira rejected the charges and termed it as a bid to malign their political image.
“The youth had an affair with a girl but when his family did not allow their marriage he and the girl attempted suicide at their homes. While youth died the girl survived,” he claimed.
“The protesters were assured justice and a compensation of ₹25,000 to four injured was sanctioned. The body will be cremated after post-mortem,” Ferozepur deputy commissioner Ramvir said.
SAD DEMANDS INDERJIT ZIRA’S ARREST
CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday demanded arrest of Congress leader Inderjit Singh Zira and his goons for attack on the protesting villagers. Former Akali ministers Bikram Singh Majithia and Sikander Singh Maluka claimed that Inderjit led nearly 200 goons to the Zira police station where villagers and kisan unions were holding a peaceful protest.