A 28-year-old man working as a 'pathi' in gurdwaras has died by suicide after consuming a poisonous substance in the Mahilpur area of Hoshiarpur district, Punjab. The incident follows a dispute over sharing income from religious services.
Police Arrest Six in Abetment Case
Police have arrested six individuals and registered a case on charges of abetment to suicide and criminal conspiracy. The case was filed based on a complaint by Jagdish Singh, a granthi at a local gurdwara, who stated that his son Jaspal Singh performed Akhand Path and Sehaj Path in gurdwaras.
Allegations of Threats and Humiliation
According to the complaint, on June 9, Satinder Singh, along with Rajwant Singh, Pargat Singh, Gurjant Singh, Tasvir Singh, Mehar Singh, and three to four unidentified persons, approached Jaspal Singh and demanded a share of the income from religious services. When Jaspal refused, the accused allegedly threatened and humiliated him. They also accused him of 'disrespecting Guru Granth Sahib' and warned him of serious consequences.
Suicide and Legal Action
The family claimed that Jaspal Singh suffered severe mental stress following the incident. On the evening of June 12, he consumed a poisonous substance and was rushed to a hospital, where he died. Based on the complaint, Mahilpur police registered a case against the six accused under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
