5 booked in sarpanch suicide case; MLA, aide given clean chit

The Ferozepur Police have booked five persons in connection with the suicide case of Jashan Bawa, a young sarpanch of Tarinda village in Guru Har Sahai subdivision, who had shot himself dead with his licensed pistol on May 31 at his residence.

The family members of Jashan had submitted a complaint to the police, in which they had accused AAP MLA from Guru Har Sahai Fauja Singh Sarari and his aide Bachittar Singh for allegedly forcing the sarpanch to take the extreme step and levelled serious charges of corruption against him. Subsequently, the family members along with Kisan Union supporters held a dharna, demanding action against the two, following which the police constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to look into the matter.

After the investigations, the police have now lodged an FIR in which five persons, including Sona Singh, Kuldip Singh, Hardeep Singh, Sukhwinder Singh (all residents of Tarinda village) and Karanbir Singh Dhillon , a resident of Nijhhar village in Guru Har Sahai, have been booked under Sections 108 and 61 (2) of the BNS (abetment to suicide and criminal conspiracy) at Lakho ke Behram police station while giving clean chit to the MLA and his aide.

Bhupinder Singh, SSP, said that the accused used to pass sarcastic comments at Jashan, adding that accused Karanbir had taken Rs 12 lakh from Jashan and did not return due to which the deceased was under stress. The SSP said the police had launched a manhunt to nab all accused.

Meanwhile, Sarari said that finally truth had come to fore. “All allegations levelled by few miscreants against me have proved to be false as they just wanted to tarnish my image for their vested interests,” said Sarari. On the other hand, members of the Kisan Union said that the police was acting under pressure and the family members of Jashan were pressured to withdraw the complaint against the MLA.

Punjab