BKU holds protests at 48 Punjab police stations over Daljit Singh’s body removal

The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) held protests outside 48 police stations across Punjab on Wednesday over the alleged forcible removal of Daljit Singh’s body by the police. Senior union leader Jhanda Singh Jethuke said the demonstrations were scheduled from 11.30 am to 4 pm, and the union demanded that police hand over the body to the family without delay.

Daljit Singh, a resident of Bhamme Kalan village in Sardulgarh, died under mysterious circumstances. His family and supporters were taking his body towards the protest site near the Mansa Deputy Commissioner’s residence, where an agitation is underway over the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, when the police allegedly took it away on Tuesday. The body is currently at AIIMS Bathinda.

BKU leader Shingara Singh said protests were being held at 48 locations across the state. He added that a contingent of protesters was leaving Barnala to join the agitation.

“The body of the deceased must be handed over to the family without any delay. It is their prerogative to decide how and when they want to cremate him. Why should the police interfere?” Jethuke said in a video message.

He urged farmers and union members to join the demonstrations, stating that the organisation would mobilise supporters across Punjab against what it described as police excesses.

The union also announced that a large contingent of supporters would travel to Mansa to join the ongoing protest by Jhota’s family and supporters. Daljit Singh’s family alleged that he died of a drug overdose and claimed that drugs were easily available in the district. The family has demanded the right to decide on his last rites. So far we have’nt received any such statement , we will update the story accordingly.