Updated: December 17, 2020 8:08:46 am
The body was brought to Karnal for a post-mortem examination. Authorities said they will then take him to Nanaksar Gurdwara in Singhra village, where a large number of his followers have gathered. The last rites will be celebrated on Friday.
A Sikh priest from a gurdwara in the Karnal district of Haryana, identified as Sant Baba Ram Singh (65), reportedly shot himself in Kundli, near the Singhu border, where farmers have been protesting for the last 20 days, Wednesday.
In an alleged suicide note, Singh, also known as Nanaksar Singhra Wale, said he was hurt by the plight of the farmers.
While Singh is reported to have shot himself with his licensed revolver, Kundli Police Station SHO Ravi Kumar said they had yet to find out the weapon used. “His associates have given a statement to the police that he died by suicide. Our investigation is ongoing, ”he said.
The alleged suicide note, written in Gurmukhi, reads: “I saw the anguish of the farmers. They are suffering on the roads to regain their rights. My heart was very hurt by this. The government is not doing justice. That is an injustice. Oppressing someone is a sin; tolerating oppression is also a sin. People have shown their solidarity with farmers and their anger against this injustice in various ways. Some have returned their awards to express their anger. I am killing myself in support of farmers and against government atrocities. This is a voice against injustice. This is a voice in support of hard working farmers. “
The body was brought to Karnal for a post-mortem examination. Authorities said they will then take him to Nanaksar Gurdwara in Singhra village, where a large number of his followers have gathered. The last rites will be celebrated on Friday.
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Karnal SP Ganga Ram Punia told PTI that police have been deployed to the area. “The situation is peaceful and under control,” he said.
Haryana BKU spokesperson Rakesh Bains told The Indian Express that Singh and his supporters had been supporting the farmers’ protest and had also distributed blankets.
One villager, Karamjeet Virk, said that Singh had moved to the gurdwara in Singhra village from a gurdwara in Jagraon, Punjab, in the early 1990s. “He was a religious man and did not opt for married life.” said.
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In Singhu, peasant leaders expressed their condolences to Singh’s family.
In a video clip, Akali spokesman and chairman of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, said: “He was a great man who dedicated his life to the cause of the people … I call on everyone to keep calm as some may use this to cause harm. “
Pal from BKU said: “Earlier today, we found out about his death. We also found a letter in which he said that he could not bear the pain of the farmers. It’s true that a lot of people come here and can be moved by what they see and the way this government is treating them. Death saddens us and we extend our condolences to the family ”.
“My condolences and tribute in this hour of pain. Many farmers have sacrificed their lives. The brutality of the Modi government has pushed all boundaries. Drop the stubbornness and immediately withdraw the anti-farm law, ”said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a Hindi tweet.
SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal said he was distressed to hear about the suicide. “Sant ji’s sacrifice will not be allowed to be in vain. I urge the Government of India not to allow the situation to deteriorate further and to repeal the 3 agricultural laws, ”he tweeted.
With input from Amil Bhatnagar, New Delhi
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd
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