Punjab erupts in protest: Leaders detained as heat mounts on minister Laljit Singh Bhullar in officer suicide case

CHANDIGARH: The family of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation district manager Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, who allegedly died by suicide in Amritsar, on Sunday demanded strict action and the immediate arrest of former state minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, alleging sustained harassment had pushed the officer to take the extreme step.

Talking to reporters here, the deceased officer’s brother, Varinder Singh Randhawa, said the family would not compromise and would continue to seek justice. “Although an FIR has been registered, if the chief minister is truly honest, he should ensure the immediate arrest of the minister and other accused so that the family can perform the last rites,” he said.

“We are not going to bow down, and there will be no compromise. This is the stand of the entire family after discussions among all members,” said Randhawa, adding that merely registering a case was not sufficient.

Randhawa had reached Chandigarh along with leaders of opposition parties Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), BJP and CPI to protest for the arrest of the sacked minister.

During the protest, several opposition functionaries from Punjab were detained as they attempted to march towards chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s residence.

Opposition leaders gathered at the MLA hostel in Chandigarh before launching the protest. Chandigarh Police stopped them en route, used water cannons to disperse the crowd, and detained several leaders, who were later released.

Leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa alleged serious wrongdoing, saying that allegations indicated Randhawa was subjected to confinement and extortion. “The facts clearly establish cognisable offences, and the law must take its due course without delay or dilution,” he said.
Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar also targeted the state govt. “After strong public opposition, the govt was forced last night to register a case against the minister, but no arrest has been made yet,” he said and demanded that “the case be investigated by the CBI”. Jakhar said the chief minister “has no moral right to remain in office”.

SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia accused the govt of shielding the accused, stating, “An AAP minister’s hooliganism, corruption and gangster threats pushed a capable officer to death.” He claimed that the FIR was delayed, saying: “The FIR which was supposed to be registered on the morning of March 21 was instead registered at 1 am on March 22, showing the govt’s lack of seriousness.”