Punjab: Dalit Man Who Was Thrashed & Forced to Drink Urine Dies

The man was allegedly thrashed after being tied to a pillar. On asking for water, he was forced to drink urine.

Members of the Dalit community raise slogans during Bharat Bandh against the alleged dilution of SC/ST Act in New Delhi, on 2 April 2018. Image used for representation.

(Photo: ANI)

A 37-year-old Dalit man, Jagmail Singh who was mercilessly thrashed and forced to drink urine in Punjab's Sangrur district, succumbed to his injuries on Saturday, 16 November, morning at a hospital, police said, according to PTI.

"He succumbed to his injuries at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER)," Sangrur Senior Superintendent of Police Sandeep Garg said.

Singh was admitted to PGIMER and his legs were amputated.

Garg said section 302 (murder) of the IPC has been added to the FIR registered in this matter.

Several locals and organisations launched a protest outside the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office in Sangrur district, ANI reported.

As per The Tribune, the victim’s family refused to allow post-mortem or accept the body till the Singh’s wife was given a government job and adequate compensation.

The Dalit man, a resident of Changaliwala village, had an altercation with Rinku, Amarjeet Singh Lucky alias Goli, and Beeta alias Binder on 21 October but the matter was resolved with the intervention of villagers.

He had told police that on 7 November, Rinku called him to his house and they discussed the matter.

The man had alleged that he was then thrashed by four persons after being tied to a pillar and when he asked for water, he was forced to drink urine.

Four persons were arrested on the charges of abduction, wrongful confinement, and under various sections of the IPC, and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act at the Lehra police station in Sangrur, police said.

Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has also sought a report from Sangrur Senior Superintendent of Police over the incident.

Chairperson Tejinder Kaur on Friday said the commission learnt about the incident through media reports and took suo motu cognisance and sought the report.

Opposition Attacks Congress Govt

After the incident, Opposition parties have attacked the Congress government over the "barbaric treatment" being meted out to Dalits in the state. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said a "rule of jungle" was prevalent in the state.

Expressing grief over the death, Punjab Minister and Sangrur MLA Vijay Inder Singla said, "Whatever has happened is unfortunate. We stand with the family. The accused should get exemplary punishment."

Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly and AAP legislator Harpal Singh Cheema said a compensation of Rs. 50 lakhs must be given to the family and that a family member should also be given a government job.

AAP's Sangrur MP, Bhagwant Mann said that in a civilised society such incidents were shameful and demanded those responsible for the crime be given strict punishment.

State Congress chief Sunil Jakhar said strict punishment would be given to those involved in this incident while the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has also sought a report from the Sangrur SP over the incident.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI and The Tribune.)