Metal pellets or bullets: What killed Shubhkaran?
Punjab is yet to release the findings of Shubhkaran Singh’s autopsy report which reportedly says that metal pellets were found in his head. The Haryana DGP had earlier stated that they did not use any pellet guns on protesting farmers.
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Shubhkaran Singh, the 22-year-old farmer from BathindaShubhkaran Singh, the 22-year-old farmer from Bathinda who lost his life amid the ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest at the Khanauri border on February 21, died of a firearm injury, Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said on Friday.
After he was hit in the head, Shubhkaran was rushed to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala where he was pronounced dead.
Dr Singh said the post-mortem conducted on Wednesday night revealed that the farmer had suffered a firearm shot. “I have not seen the post-mortem report yet as I am busy with the Vidhan Sabha session. However, I have learnt that Shubhkaran died of a firearm injury in his brain,” he said.
It is learnt that as per the autopsy report, the youth died on the spot. No bullet has been recovered from his brain, but a few metal pellets were reportedly found lodged in it. Farmers protesting along with him had earlier stated that a rubber bullet may have hit Shubhkaran as the Haryana Police was said to be firing rubber bullets at the time.
The Punjab government is yet to release the findings of the post-mortem report which may put the Haryana Police in the dock. The Haryana DGP had earlier stated that they did not use any pellet guns on the protesters, and only tear gas shells were used to disperse the agitators.
Dr Balbir Singh had, however, already stated that the Haryana Police were using “illegal pellet guns” on the country’s own youths, adding that several cases of pellet injuries had reached the hospitals near Patiala. Three farmers had lost vision in one eye each after such pellets allegedly penetrated deep inside their eyes.
A Punjab Police officer said, on condition of anonymity, that usually pellets are loaded in short-range or long-range air guns. The pellets can be either made of metal or rubber and can be fatal.
Referring to reports about Shubhkaran Singh’s post-mortem report, a senior Haryana Police officer told The Indian Express, “All these things (metal pellets being found in his skull) are being claimed either by the farmers, the media or the Punjab government. So far, we have not received any document – post-mortem report or any other sort of legal intimation – in this regard. Casualties have been there on both sides, be it farmers or police personnel. It is extremely unfortunate.”
“The Haryana Police exercised extreme restraint in dealing with the protesters. Once we get any legal intimation or the autopsy report, we shall respond accordingly in a legal manner. Until we receive anything from Punjab, we can’t comment. These are legal issues and need to be dealt with legally,” he added.
“We have been requesting them (protesting farmers) to maintain calm, follow the law and seek a resolution to their demands through talks. Causing harassment to people through such violent protests is not in anybody’s interest. The issues can only be resolved through talks,” the officer said.
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