Dalit man who died by suicide in Punjab faced casteist slurs from panchayat for raising drug issue

Gulzar Singh, a Dalit man who died by suicide in Punjab, had confronted Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about drug supply and raised concerns about his son’s severe drug addiction. The village panchayat then subjected Gulzar to casteist slurs and forced him to issue a public apology before the panchayat. Punjab police have formed an SIT and booked five villagers.