Why has a Punjab villager’s death triggered political uproar across the State? | Explained

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Punjab Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema seen in Dirba constituency, in Sangrur. File image: @AAPPunjab X/ANI Photo

The story so far: On the night of September 7, 2026, 47-year-old Gulzar Singh from Toor Banjara village in Punjab’s Sangrur district died by suicide . It’s alleged that he took the extreme step after he was pressured by local Aam Aadmi Party supporters to apologise for questioning Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the drug menace in his village during an event at Dirba that was held on September 6.

Singh’s family members had alleged that he was harassed and subjected to casteist slurs after he questioned the Finance Minister about drug supply in his village and surrounding areas, citing his son’s addiction, at an event in Dirba. Later, a purported video showing Mr. Singh’s final moments emerged, in which he talks about having confronted the Finance Minister. The family also alleged that the cremation was done forcibly by the administration without their consent.

The police registered a case under under Section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and have booked five people under Section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was sent by the police to probe the death case. Subsequently, an FIR was registered against five villagers, including Baljit Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Vicky Singh, Gona Singh and Baljinder Kaur.

National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Chairman Kishor Makwana, who met the family of the deceased, noted that Singh had been speaking out against the drug menace, which he said was ruining the lives of numerous young people in the area. He had sought a detailed report on Singh’s death from the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has also asked the Punjab government to submit a status report on the investigation into Singh’s death, in connection with a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a CBI probe into the matter. The next hearing in the matter has been fixed for October 6.

The disclosure made in Singh’s purported video, where he is heard speaking about having confronted the Finance minister shortly before his death triggered a huge uproar as mainstream political parties cornered the ruling AAP government, demanding Mr. Cheema’s removal from the cabinet and an independent investigation into the death case.

Members of the Congress party staged a demonstration in Chandigarh against the Finance Minister, demanding his resignation. Congress party’s Punjab affairs general secretary-in-charge, Sachin Pilot, noted that while the party has nothing personal against Mr.