Amritsar farmer ends life, arhtiya among 2 held

Amritsar, September 26

Amid ongoing protests against the agriculture Bills, a farmer committed suicide by hanging himself over alleged harassment by an arhtiya (commission agent) and his aide. The two have been arrested. The victim has been identified as Ranjit Singh (40), a resident of Harsha Chhina village.

The police have booked the commission agent, Satinderpal Singh, alias Chhindu, of Vanali village, and Jagroop Singh of Harsha Chhinna village. Satinderpal was a Congress sarpanch and vice-president of the arhtiya union.

Before ending his life, the farmer wrote a suicide note and made a video, accusing the two of driving him to suicide. In the video, the farmer alleged the accused had been harassing him and his family by filing false complaints. The police have launched further probe.

Victim’s brother Gurjit Singh claimed Ranjit, who had been upset for the past few months, told the family a few days ago that he had taken a loan amounting to several lakhs of rupees from the two and given them certain cheques.

In his complaint to the police, he said though Ranjit had returned the money, the accused started harassing him and threatened to get a cheque dishonouring case registered against him. Gurjit said his brother ended his life by hanging himself in the house last night. Rajasansi police station SHO Narinderpal Singh said Satinderpal and Jagroop had been booked for abetting suicide. — TNS