Protesters from the Guru Ravidas Tiger Force (GRTF) continued their road blockade on the Kartarpur-Kapurthala road for a second day on Saturday, demanding action against Kapurthala jail officials over the alleged custodial death of an inmate from Talhan village.
Protest Details and Demands
Between 70 and 80 members of the GRTF, led by Jassi Talhan, began the protest on Friday. They allege that Harpreet Chahal, who had recently returned from Saudi Arabia, died due to medical neglect while in custody. According to Talhan, Chahal was taken into custody after being declared a proclaimed offender in a case registered at Patara police station.
The protesters claim that Chahal's health deteriorated over several days, but jail authorities did not transfer him to a hospital for treatment. "Had the authorities provided him timely medical care, he would have been alive today," Talhan asserted.
Administration Efforts and Continued Protest
District administration officials attempted to persuade the protesters to disperse, but they refused to end the dharna or lift the road blockade. Family members of the deceased also gathered outside the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kapurthala, demanding immediate action against jail officials. Senior police officers held talks with the protesters, but they remained firm on their demand for prompt administrative action.
Police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order, while traffic on the Kartarpur-Kapurthala road remained disrupted. Nachattar Singh, president of the Sher-e-Punjab Naujawan Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, also joined the protest in support.
Protesters Demand Direct Intervention
The protesters insisted that either the SSP or the Deputy Commissioner (DC) visit the protest site and directly address their grievances. They arranged mattresses and food supplies to stay overnight, signaling their determination to continue the agitation.
Later, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Kapurthala, arrived at the protest venue and accepted a memorandum outlining the demands. The ADC assured that grievances would be addressed by Monday. However, the assurance failed to satisfy the protesters, who insisted on immediate action and refused to lift the road blockade.
Ongoing Situation
The dharna continued into the evening, with around 15 to 20 protesters remaining at the site. Police barricades kept the Kartarpur-Kapurthala road closed to traffic, while security personnel remained deployed to prevent any untoward incident.
