Five people have been booked for abetment to suicide days after a farmer allegedly ended his life in a village in Zira sub-division here, police said today.
Jatinder Singh (25) committed suicide three days ago in Kacharbhann village and it was alleged that he killed himself after some people got a plot of land belonging to his family registered in their names, they said.
The accused, identified as Rachhpal Singh, his wife, Sarbjit Kaur, Jagtar Singh, Gurjit Singh and Nishan Singh were booked under sections 306 of the IPC, officials said.
The family members of the deceased held a protest with his body in front of the Zira Sadar police station last night demanding arrest of the accused and agreed to cremate the body only after assurances of a fair probe, they added.
Meanwhile, Punjab police formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the matter and submit a report within a month, officials said.
The family also demanded action against Inderjit Singh Zira, president of the Kisan Cell of Punjab Congress, alleging that Zira, along with his supporters had attacked them when they were protesting, they added.
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Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today demanded immediate arrest of the Congress leader and his supporters.
Senior SAD leaders Bikram Singh Majithia and Sikander Singh Maluka said Zira led more than 200 supporters to the spot where the villagers were engaged in a peaceful protest.
However, Zira said the farmers participating in the protest belonged to the SAD.
He added that Jatinder Singh had committed suicide for some other reasons but certain sections, owing allegiance to the SAD, were trying to take political benefit of the entire situation.
"The police called me yesterday night at police station to discuss the entire issue. However, few of these miscreants participating in the dharna attacked us and pelted stones," Zira said.