Sikh man dies in suspicious circumstances after NIA questioning

This article is a summary report of a longer article by Sikh Siyasat News, the premiere Panjab based panthic (Sikh path/community based) news site.

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A 23-year-old Sikh man was found dead soon after being taken in for questioning by the NIA (National Investigation Agency), with Indian authorities claiming it was suicide.

Sikh groups have called the death of Lovepreet Singh, a Granthi (person in charge of leading reading and care of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Sikh scriptural Guru) “mysterious”, with his own father saying “Lovepreet’s death is linked with National Investigation Agency ( NIA) summoning. I don’t know what happened with him inside the NIA office.”

Lovepreet Singh was taken in for questioning based on a UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) case on July 13 and found dead approximately 24-hours later. The UAPA law has been widely condemned by various human rights supporters for allowing detention of people based on little-to-no evidence. Countless Sikhs have suffered under the law for infringements as minor as Facebook posts.

Lovepreet Singh was found having seemingly hung himself in a Gurdwara room in his local area of Sehjra, with a suicide note found on him. Prior to being found dead, Lovepreet Singh was in touch with him family over the phone, who say he seemed very quiet and his voice was “shivering”.

Indian media outlets have mentioned Lovepreet Singh was of a Dalit background, a caste considered “low” in context of India’s caste hierarchy. Sources tell Sikh PA this is significant as his background means there is likely to be less examination of his death, due to the lack of support “lower caste” people have in India, both from the wider community and within the legal system.

Further comment from his village Sarpanch (leader) claims Lovepreet Singh was not known to be involved in any criminal activity, whilst others have also spoken out about the torture suffered and pressure put on those targeted by the law, specifically under UAPA.

Jaspal Singh Manjhpur, a respected Sikh human rights lawyer based in Punjab that is currently leading the defence for the high profile cases against Jagtar Singh Johal (of the #FreeJaggiNow campaign), has called for an investigation into NIA tactics.

Sikh Siyasat news pointed out this is not the first suicide of someone soon after they were taken in for questioning by the NIA. Read more from them here- https://sikhsiyasat.net/2020/07/21/nias-tactics-under-question-again-after-sikh-youth-inquired-by-nia-dies-under-mysterious-circumstances/.