9 days after torture, Dalit man dies; accused booked for murder

Jagmail Singh, 37, a Dalit construction worker from Sangrur district of Punjab who was brutally beaten up and forced to drink urine when he asked for water, died at Chandigarh’s Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) on Saturday morning.

The death of Jagmail of Changaliwala village near Lehra sparked protests in district as Dalit organisations demanded strict police action against the accused and compensation to his family.

The police added Sections 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC to the FIR and claimed that all the four accused have been arrested.

“The victim was undergoing treatment at PGIMER, Chandigarh, and both his legs had to be amputated to check the spread of infection due to the injuries. However, he died on Saturday morning. The police have incorporated murder charge against the accused who are in judicial remand,” said Gurmeet Singh, superintendent of police (SP), Sangrur. Kamalpreet Singh alias

Rinku, Amarjeet Singh, Yadwinder alias Lucky and Balwinder alias Binder, all residents of Changaliwala village, had tied Jagmail to a pillar and beaten him up with iron rods at Changaliwala village near Lehra, 55km from Sangrur, on November 7.

Jagmail is survived by 33-yearold-wife and two daughters and a son, aged 6 and 9 and 15, respectively. “My father was suffering from depression and was under treatment. He was assaulted for four hours. I want justice,” said Karanvir Singh.

“It was a tragic incident showing atrocities on Dalits in Punjab. Jagmail was a victim of caste discrimination. We want ₹50 lakh compensation and a job to his wife or son,” said Bikkar Singh, the district chief of Zameen Prapti Sangharsh Committee.