9-day stand-off ends, Daljit cremated in Mansa village

Mansa: The mortal remains of 35-year-old Daljit Singh were cremated at his native Bhamme Kalan village in Mansa on Thursday, ending a nine-day standoff involving legal battles, two autopsies and violent clashes.The cremation took place following an order from the Punjab and Haryana high court directing a fresh post-mortem at PGIMER, Chandigarh, after the family disputed an earlier autopsy performed at AIIMS, Bathinda.His death on Oct 27, allegedly due to a drug overdose, had triggered protests and a political row over the drug menace in Punjab. Police, however, had registered a murder case and arrested three suspects. The next day, police intercepted protesters attempting to take Daljit’s body to a demonstration site seeking justice for slain anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa, triggering a clash. Police seized the body and conducted an initial post-mortem at AIIMS, Bathinda, with the father’s consent, exposing a split within the family as other relatives joined the ongoing anti-drug protests in Mansa.Several protesters were subsequently charged with attempt to murder, and two prominent activists, Lakha Sidhana and Mohanjit Singh Sheron, were arrested.The deadlock broke late Wednesday after the state govt reached an agreement with the Parvinder Singh Jhota Insaaf Committee. The Punjab govt announced Rs 50 lakh in financial compensation and a job at the Mansa deputy commissioner’s office for Daljit’s wife, Paramjit Kaur.Family members, including his father Jarnail Singh, mother Chhinder Kaur, wife Paramjit Kaur and sister Amarjeet Kaur, attended the final rites after bringing the body directly from PGIMER.Police said administrative procedures are underway to secure the release of Sidhana and Sheron from jail, following assurances from assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian. Their release remains a prerequisite for the post-mortem and scheduled Friday cremation of Jhota, who was killed on Oct 13.2 AUTOPSIESDaljit Singh (35) died on Oct 27; while family alleged he died of a drug overdose, police registered a murder case and arrested three suspects.Protests broke out after police seized the body; activists Lakha Sidhana and Mohanjit Singh Sheron were arrested.A second autopsy was conducted at Chandigarh’s PGIMER following Punjab and Haryana HC ordersPunjab announced Rs 50 lakh compensation and a govt job for Daljit’s wifeYou Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Chandigarh | Silver Rate in Chandigarh | Bank Holidays in Chandigarh | Public Holidays in Chandigarh | Chandigarh AQI | Weather in Chandigarh | Petrol Price in Chandigarh | Diesel Price in Chandigarh | CNG Price in Chandigarh | LPG Price in ChandigarhStay updated with the latest Chandigarh news. Download the TOI App.