7 booked for abetting Nabha farmer’s suicide
NABHA: Seven persons were booked for abetting the suicide of a a 40-year-old farmer of Kakrala village in Nabha.
Gurmail Singh hanged himself at his shop in Nabha on Sunday, leaving behind a suicide note accusing the state government and some local residents of forcing him to take the extreme step.
The note read: “I have 2 acres of land and a loan of ₹4 lakhs which was not waived. I am left with no other option except to end my life.”
The note carried the names of Parminder Singh and Dutt of Rohti village, Bhinder Singh of Jhanmbo village, Gora of Kalsi Combines, Isher Combines, Jagtar Singh of Sadhohedi village and Pamma of Kot village. The accused had allegedly bought batteries from the deceased but refused to pay up.
Sandeep Singh, the brotherin-law of Gurmail Singh, said he was threatened by the accused if he asked for money.
The villagers first protested on Sunday complaining that police did not investigate the matter for two hours despite being informed. Later, seven people were booked under Section 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
On Monday, the villagers, joined by the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan, BKU), blocked the state highway (SH) 12A and demanded addition of Sections 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) to the FIR.
The union leaders raised the issue of lawlessness and accused the police of bias. “Without any investigation, police started rejecting the suicide note saying it could have been planted by others,” they said.