Punjab: Feeling ‘ignored’ by the central government, a frustrated person committed suicide by consuming poison

Punjab: A 50-year-old farmer from Tarn Taran, who consumed poisonous substance at Shambhu border, died on Thursday. According to information, Resham Singh, a native of Pahuwind village, allegedly consumed pesticide at Shambhu border, following which he was rushed to the government hospital in Rajpura. As his condition deteriorated, he was referred to Rajendra Hospital in Patiala where doctors declared him dead. Sarwan Singh Pandher, convener of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Morcha and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political), said the farmer ended his life to register his protest over the central government’s reluctance to resolve the farmers’ issue. Pandher said that Resham Singh’s post-mortem and last rites will not be conducted until the government provides a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the family, a government job to the nearest relative and waives off all outstanding loans of the farmer. He said that until all these demands are met, the farmer’s body will be kept in the hospital mortuary. Apart from demanding a police case in the matter, Pandher said farmers should have faith in their leadership and movement and should not resort to such extreme steps. Resham Singh is the second farmer who has taken this step expressing disillusionment with the Centre. Earlier, 57-year-old Ranjodh Singh of Ratanheri village near Khanna had consumed pesticide during the farmers’ protest at Shambhu border on December 14. He later died on December 18. So far 34 farmers have died, including 22-year-old Shubhkaran Singh, who died after being shot during a protest at Khanauri border on February 21 last year. Meanwhile, on Thursday, another farmer from Khanauri border was rushed to hospital after suffering burn injuries. 40-year-old Gurdial Singh, a native of Samana, sustained burn injuries after a makeshift water heater suddenly caught fire in Khanauri. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose fast unto death entered the 45th day on Thursday, has urged his fellow protesters to continue the agitation even in the event of his death. In a poignant message to his close associate Kaka Singh Kotra on Wednesday, Dallewal said his body should be kept at the protest site and the fast should be continued by some other leader, symbolising the tireless spirit of the farmers’ movement. Kotra said the fasting leader has refused to meet anyone and asked him and other leaders to talk to the authorities on behalf of the movement. “His condition deteriorated hours after he met the Supreme Court-appointed committee headed by Justice Nawab Singh,” Kotra said. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) national general secretary MP Harendra Malik on Wednesday urged Dallewal to end his fast. Despite Malik’s efforts and an attempt to talk to SP chief Akhilesh Yadav over the phone, Dallewal was unable to speak due to his poor health condition. Kotra later told Yadav that Dallewal was adamant on his resolve not to end the fast until the farmers’ demands were met. The team of five doctors monitoring Dallewal’s health have expressed concern over his condition. Dr Gursimran Singh Buttar said, “Dallewal, who has been drinking only water since November 26, has also stopped taking his prescribed cancer medicine.”