Archive · 10 Sep 2026
BJP Seeks CBI Probe Into Punjab Villager’s Death
Gulzar Singh was a 47-year-old daily wage worker from Punjab.
He allegedly died after consuming poison on Monday night.
His family said he had asked why drugs were available in his area.
They also alleged that he was harassed and insulted with casteist slurs.
BJP leaders visited the family and asked for a CBI investigation.
They said the family claimed the cremation was done forcibly.
AAP leaders said the BJP was using the death for political gain.
AAP workers protested during the BJP visit, and five people were booked after a complaint from Singh’s family.
Four senior BJP leaders met Gulzar Singh’s family in Turbanjara and demanded a CBI probe into his alleged suicide.
Singh, a 47-year-old daily wager from Dirba, allegedly consumed poison after questioning drug availability in his area.
His family alleged that he faced harassment and casteist slurs after raising the issue with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.
BJP leaders claimed Singh’s cremation was conducted forcibly and said his vehicle was confronted by AAP workers.
AAP leaders accused the BJP of exploiting the Dalit family’s grief, while police booked five people under suicide-abetment and caste-law provisions.
- Who
- Gulzar Singh, his family, four senior BJP leaders, AAP leaders and workers, and five people booked in the case.
- What
- BJP leaders met Singh’s family and demanded a CBI inquiry into his alleged suicide, while AAP leaders accused the BJP of politicising the death.
- When
- Singh died on Monday night after raising the issue at an event on Sunday; the BJP delegation visited on Thursday, September 10.
- Where
- The meeting and confrontation occurred in Turbanjara village in Sangrur district, Punjab; Singh was from Dirba.
- Why
- His family alleged that Singh was harassed and subjected to casteist slurs after questioning drug supplies and mentioning his son’s drug addiction.
BJP’s Allegations
AAP’s Response
Purpose of the BJP visit
BJP’s Allegations
The BJP said it was seeking justice for Singh’s family and demanding a CBI inquiry into his death and the alleged drug supply.
AAP’s Response
AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Balbir Singh accused the BJP of exploiting a poor Dalit family’s grief for political gain.
Treatment of Singh’s family
BJP’s Allegations
BJP leaders said Singh was threatened after questioning drug availability and that his family claimed his cremation was conducted forcibly.
AAP’s Response
The AAP statements said the BJP had come to conduct politics over Singh’s death and should not turn grief into a political spectacle; they did not provide a separate response to the cremation allegation.
Confrontation during the visit
BJP’s Allegations
BJP leaders said AAP workers attacked or surrounded Kewal Singh Dhillon’s vehicle, while Sunil Jakhar and Ashwani Sharma questioned the police for not intervening.
AAP’s Response
AAP workers carrying banners raised slogans against the BJP and told it not to do politics over the death; the reports do not include a separate detailed account from AAP leaders about the alleged attack.
- Deceased
- Gulzar Singh, a 47-year-old daily wager from Dirba, Sangrur.
- Reported cause of death
- He allegedly consumed poison on Monday night.
- BJP delegation
- Kewal Singh Dhillon, Sunil Jakhar, Ashwani Sharma and Manpreet Singh Badal.
- BJP demand
- A Central Bureau of Investigation probe into Singh’s death.
- Family allegations
- Singh faced harassment and casteist slurs, and his cremation was allegedly conducted forcibly.
- Political confrontation
- AAP workers surrounded Dhillon’s vehicle, raised slogans and told the BJP not to politicise the death.
- Police case
- Five people were booked under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.