Punjab Drug Row: Man Dies By Suicide After Confronting Minister Harpal Cheema

Punjab’s drug crisis has triggered a fresh political controversy after Gulzar Singh of Sangrur died by suicide after allegedly consuming poison. Days earlier, Singh had confronted state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the availability of ‘chitta’, a term commonly used for illicit drugs in Punjab. His family alleges that he faced pressure to apologise after the confrontation. Opposition parties have accused the Mann government of failing to tackle the drug menace and have demanded action against Cheema along with a CBI probe. An abetment to suicide case has been registered, but Cheema has not been named in the FIR. The NHRC has also sought an Action Taken Report.