2 Dalit men commit suicide, family alleges police apathy

Two members of a Dalit family allegedy committed suicide within a fortnight in Bhatla village, sparking protest by locals who alleged police apathy following which two policemen, including an SHO have been suspended.

It comes close on the heels of two other incidents in Haryana where a 15-year-old Dalit boy, accused of stealing a pigeon, died allegedly in police custody in Gohana and two children of a Dalit family were burnt alive allegedly by members of an upper caste community.

SP (Hisar) Satender Singh put under suspension Jagbir Singh, SHO of Sadar Police Station (Hansi), and Investigation Officer Rajbir Singh in connection with the suicides of Gurbachan Singh and his uncle Badan Singh, police said today.

Gurbachan's body was found hanging from a tree near Chainat village on October 8. Police registered a case of suicide though his family suspected foul play.

Gurbachan's family members had named three persons in a complaint filed with the police and demanded their immediate arrest.

Gurbachan's uncle Badan Singh, who the family members claim was the main witness in the suicide case, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree yesterday.
The family claimed that he was being pressured by the three accused  to change his statement.

Over 200 villagers last night gathered at Civil Hospital, Hansi and demanded suspension of three police officers including ASP Jashandeep Randhawa, alleging that they took no action in the Gurbachan suicide case. SP Fatehabad Sangeeta Kalia rushed to Hansi to control the situation.

Police have arrested three persons -- Ramesh, Rajbir and Raj Kumar -- of the same village in this case. They were today produced before a court, which remanded them to two-day police custody, said DSP (Hansi) Jaspal Singh.