The death of a 35-year-old man in Punjab’s Mansa district has triggered a political controversy after a post-mortem examination detected morphine and benzodiazepines in his body, supporting his family’s suspicions of a drug overdose. The findings have raised questions about the police investigation, which initially resulted in a murder case against three individuals, while opposition leaders have accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of mishandling the incident.
Daljit Singh, a resident of Bhamme Kalan village, was found dead in agricultural fields near Ramanandi on October 27. His family maintained that he had travelled to Mansa to obtain drugs and subsequently died of an overdose. Following his death, relatives placed his body on the Sirsa-Mansa road and staged a blockade, demanding action against suspected drug traffickers operating in the area. Police later took possession of the body and transferred it to AIIMS Bathinda for a post-mortem examination, a move that drew criticism from the family.
The initial post-mortem report confirmed the presence of morphine and benzodiazepines, strengthening the family’s account of a suspected overdose. However, the findings have intensified scrutiny of the police decision to register a murder case. Singh, who was married and had two children, was reportedly the sole earning member of his family, leaving his dependants facing significant financial uncertainty following his death.
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and Member of Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal strongly criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, accusing the state administration and police of attempting to portray the death as a murder rather than a drug-related incident. Badal also alleged that Mansa police officials forcibly removed Singh’s body from the protest site and intimidated his relatives. These allegations remain claims made by the opposition.
The dispute over the handling of Singh’s body eventually reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court. His sister, Amarjit Kaur, filed a petition alleging that the initial post-mortem had been conducted without the family’s knowledge or consent. The court intervened to address the dispute and ordered a second independent examination at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh. The results of that examination were still awaited at the time of reporting. Following court-directed arrangements, Singh was cremated in his native village on November 5 under heavy police security.
The case has renewed political debate over drug trafficking, substance abuse and law enforcement in Punjab. Opposition parties have used the incident to question the AAP government’s efforts to combat the drug trade, while the family’s allegations have intensified demands for accountability. The outcome of the independent post-mortem examination and subsequent investigation is expected to be important in establishing the circumstances surrounding Singh’s death.
