Punjab: Sarpanch beaten to death by drug peddlers in Jalandhar, family seeks martyr status
He was allegedly attacked by drug traffickers for providing information about 'chitta' being sold in the area.
PTC News Desk: In a series of murder cases, another sarpanch has been killed in Buta Chhanna village in Punjab's Jalandhar district. This is second such incident in 24 hours.
The deceased sarpanch has been identified as Mahinder Singh who was also a leader of the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha. He was allegedly attacked by drug traffickers on February 28. He was immediately rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to the injuries on Saturday.
He reportedly suffered severe head injuries with skull fractured and broken legs. He was admitted to a private hospital in Jalandhar in critical condition.
After the incident, residents of Mehatpur and members of farmers’ organisations staged a protest outside the Mehatpur police station. CCTV footage of the attackers also surfaced after the assault.
Five accused had arrived on two motorcycles and carried out the attack. Farmer leaders and villagers alleged that the attack happened because the sarpanch had informed the police about drug peddlers.
According to the villagers, the sarpanch had been regularly giving information to the police about people selling “chitta” as part of the Punjab government’s anti-drug campaign. They accused the police of allegedly passing the information to the traffickers instead of taking action against them, which led to the attack.
At the time of the incident, the sarpanch was going to the fields with his wife at around 6:30 am. As soon as they reached the fields, some people who were already hiding there attacked him. By the time locals arrived after hearing the noise, the attackers had fled.
Station House Officer Sukhpal Singh said a case of attempt to murder had earlier been registered against the accused. Five suspects were identified, and three of them have been arrested so far, while raids are being conducted to arrest the remaining two.
The SHO added that earlier people were demanding the arrest of the accused, but now they are also demanding that the sarpanch be given martyr status and that a school be named after him.