Punjab farmer, feeling 'unheard' by Centre, consumes poison in desperation, dies

A 50-year-old farmer from Tarn Taran, who consumed a poisonous substance at Shambhu border, died on Thursday. A suicide note was also found in his pocket, which read: “I, Resham Singh, son of Jagtar Singh from village Pahuwind, am a member of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee. I believe that sacrificing one’s life is necessary to awaken the Modi government and the Punjab government. Inspired by Dallewal Saab’s sacrifice, I have decided to sacrifice my life.”

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According to information, Resham Singh, a native of Pahuwind village, allegedly consumed insecticide at Shambhu border after which he was rushed to Government Hospital in Rajpura.

As his condition deteriorated, he was referred to Rajendra Hospital in Patiala, where he was declared dead by doctors.

Sarwan Singh Pandher, coordinator of forums Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Morcha and Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), said the farmer ended his life to register his protest over Central Government’s reluctance to resolve the issue of farmers.

Pandher said the postmortem and last rites of Resham Singh will not be performed until the government compensate the family with Rs 25 lakh, offers government job to the next of kin and waive off all the pending loan of the farmer.

The body of the farmer will be kept in the hospital mortuary till the time all these demands are met, he added.

Beside demanding a police case into the matter, Pandher said the farmers should trust their leadership and the movement, and do not indulge in taking such extreme steps.

Resham Singh is the second farmer who has taken this step while expressing disillusionment against the Centre. Earlier, 57-year-old Ranjodh Singh of Ratanheri village near Khanna had consumed insecticide during the farmers’ protest on December 14 at Shambhu border. He later died on December 18.

So far, 34 farmers, including 22-year-old Shubhkaran Singh, who was shot dead during a protest at Khanauri border on February 21 last year, have died since the beginning of the protest on February 13.

Meanwhile, another farmer from Khanauri border was rushed to the hospital after he suffered burn injuries on Thursday.

Gurdial Singh, 40, a native of Samana, suffered burn injuries due to a sudden fire in a makeshift water heater at Khanauri.

Farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose fast-unto-death entered 45th day on Thursday, has urged his fellow protesters to carry on the movement even in the event of his death.

In a poignant message conveyed to his close comrade Kaka Singh Kotra on Wednesday, Dallewal said his body be kept at the protest site and the fast be continued by another leader, symbolising the relentless spirit of the farm movement.

Kotra said the fasting leader had refused to meet anyone and asked him and other leaders to negotiate with officials on behalf of the movement. “His condition worsened hours after his meeting with the Supreme Court-appointed committee led by Justice Nawab Singh,” Kotra said.

Meanwhile, MP Harendra Malik, national general secretary of the Samajwadi Party (SP), on Wednesday urged Dallewal to end his fast. Despite Malik’s efforts and an attempted call with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Dallewal was unable to speak due to his frail health condition. Kotra later told Yadav that Dallewal remained firm in his resolve not to end the fast until the farmers’ demands were met.

A team of five doctors monitoring Dallewal’s health has expressed concern over his condition. Dr Gursimran Singh Buttar said, “Dallewal, who has been consuming only water since November 26, has also stopped taking his prescribed cancer medication.”