Chandigarh, Sep 21 (PTI) An attempted suicide by a man in Sangrur, allegedly over the supply of drugs in his village, sparked a political row in Punjab on Monday, with opposition parties targeting the AAP government for “failing” to stop the problem, which has hit back and called the allegations “low-level politics”.
Jagga Singh, a resident of Namol village in Sangrur, allegedly attempted suicide on Sunday by consuming a poisonous substance outside the district administrative complex in Sangrur district, claiming that a local sarpanch issued threats to him after he shared a video of drug supply in his village.
The villager claimed that he had approached the police, but no action was taken. He is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Patiala.
Rejecting Jagga Singh’s allegations, leaders of Namol panchayat alleged he was making the accusations to “protect himself” in a case related to an argument with the panchayat, while police said the villager had nine FIRs registered against him, including a drugs case and convictions in four excise cases.
Punjab AAP president and cabinet minister Aman Arora also claimed that Jagga’s allegations were politically motivated and cited the police cases against him, which included drugs and rape charges.
The incident came close on the heels of a suicide by a Dalit man, Gulzar Singh, in Sangrur on September 7. His family had alleged that he was harassed and subjected to casteist slurs for questioning Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about the supply of drugs at an event in Dirba.
Gulzar’s suicide had snowballed into a major controversy, with opposition parties demanding action against the minister.
Jagga Singh, in a video, claimed he had posted a video of the supply of ‘chitta’ (synthetic drugs) on the internet.
But the village sarpanch allegedly threatened him and forced him to delete the video, Jagga claimed. He claimed that cameras at his house were also damaged and police took no action even after he filed a complaint.
In another video, Jagga claimed that there was an “unabated” supply of drugs in Namol village.
After Jagga consumed poison, he was initially taken to the Civil Hospital in Sangrur. Later, he was shifted to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala.
Punjab AAP president Arora said Namol village panchayat had earlier passed a resolution that drugs would not be allowed to be sold in the village.
On September 7, Jagga allegedly abused the sarpanch and panches of the village, leading to an argument, said Arora. Then both the village panchayat and Jagga filed complaints against each other.
Arora said on September 12, Jagga threatened to commit suicide if no action was taken against the sarpanch and panchayat.
On Sunday, he allegedly consumed some poisonous substance and is currently undergoing treatment at Rajindra Hospital, he said.
Arora said nine FIRs had been registered against Jagga Singh, which pertained to liquor, drugs and a rape charge.
Reacting to the opposition criticising the Mann government, Arora accused them of trying to “defame” the AAP regime without understanding the ground reality. He dared the opposition leaders to visit the Namol village and speak against the panchayat.
This “low-level politics” of the opposition is “shameless and condemnable”, he said.
Namol Block Samiti member Sukhbir Singh rejected Jagga Singh’s allegations. He was known as ‘Jagga Blackia’ in the village and had abused the panchayat, the block samiti leader said.
In order to save himself from any action, he made false accusations against us, Sukhbir Singh said.
Sangrur Senior Superintendent of Police, Ravjot Kaur Grewal, said that out of nine FIRs registered against Jagga, he had been convicted in four cases related to excise. There is also an NDPS case registered against him at Sadar Patiala, she said.
The Namol village panchayat has stated that Jagga was being “provoked politically”, she said, adding that further investigation was underway.
Targeting the Bhagwant Mann government, BJP MP Tarun Chugh asked what Jagga Singh’s fault was. “His only crime was that he spoke out against the drug mafia. He was threatened and harassed, and when he sought police help, what happened? Police were nowhere to be found, but the sarpanch made his life miserable,” Chugh alleged in a post on X.
Attacking the chief minister, Chugh said, “Bhagwant Mann sahib, you are responsible for Jagga Singh’s condition today. If you can’t stop the drug menace and the mafia, you have no right to remain in office. Punjab will no longer be silent.” Senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajawa said another man has attempted suicide in Sangrur, which is the home district of the CM.
“This is deeply disturbing. When a young man who raises his voice against the drug menace allegedly feels so helpless that he attempts to end his own life. What is the reality behind the government’s claims of a drug-free Punjab?” asked Bajwa in a post on X.
“Sangrur has witnessed one disturbing incident after another. How many more warnings does the AAP Punjab government need before it takes the drug menace and the safety of those opposing it seriously?” asked Bajwa. PTI CHS SKY SKY
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.