On eve of no-trust motion, Budhlada NC chief kills self

Perneet Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 28

A day before he was to face the no-trust motion, Budhlada Nagar Council (NC) chief and Akali leader Harvinder Singh Bunty on Tuesday allegedly committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance at a pesticide shop at Budhlada in Mansa district. He was apparently depressed due to the allegations of corruption being leveled against him.

Initially, there were reports of a suicide note being recovered from the deceased, but Mansa SSP Mandhir Singh denied the same.

“The SDM and police officials have recorded the statements of those who were present at the shop when he consumed the poisonous substance. We will initiate necessary action after investigating the matter,” he said.

Sources said Bunty was rushed to a private hospital in Mansa, but he breathed his last on reaching there. Later, a number of political leaders visited the hospital.

The town had been witnessing protests for the past sometime over incomplete development projects. A Nagar Sudhar Committee was also set up to wage a struggle for the town’s development. During these protests, Bunty was accused of misappropriating funds due to which he was upset for the last few days.

The Nagar Sudhar Sabha protested for three consecutive days from August 20-22. The SDM had called a meeting of the NC on August 29 during which Bunty had to prove his majority.

The sources said some councillors appeared to be parting ways with Bunty ahead of the no-trust vote, which might be one of the reasons behind his committing suicide.

Gurtej Singh, a close relative of Bunty, claimed that there was a complete transparency in his style of functioning, but a few people were hell bent on unseating him from the post due to which he was under stress. He held some political leaders responsible for his suicide and sought legal action against them.

Supporters stage dharna

Following the death of NC chief Bunty, his supporters sat on a dharna outside Budhlada police station, seeking registration of a case against those responsible for abetting his suicide. They warned that they would not allow the post-mortem examination of the body till the guilty were not arrested. Most of those participating in the dharna belonged to the Akali Dal. Budhlada SHO Paramjeet Singh said the police were examining the CCTV footage of the shop where he consumed the poisonous substance.