Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday met the agitating students of Khalsa College, who are on a warpath against the college management over the recent suicide of a student, Harpreet Singh, in his hostel room in the college premises.The Chief Minister assured the students of justice and directed Anurag Verma, Principal Secretary, Higher Education, to address their grievances and probe the matter to ascertain the college management’s role in the suicide of the student who was found hanging in his room.He also assured Harpreet’s father, Yadwinder Singh, of all possible help by the state government for the family and also to punish anyone found guilty of abetment to the suicide.In a letter to the Chief Minister, Yadwinder sought Rs. 50 lakh in compensation and a job for his younger son following the death of Harpreet, the only bread-winner who could have lifted the family out of the extreme poverty they are living in.
The letter was also signed by members of the Gram Panchayat and residents of Harpreet’s village Gumti Kalan.Demanding strong action against the college management committee members, principal and registrar for abetting the suicide of the student over the issue of attendance shortage, the students sought the Chief Minister’s intervention in bringing the guilty to book. Captain Amarinder told the students that he would ensure that justice is meted out in the matter.The Chief Minister made it clear that nobody found complicit in abetting the suicide of BSc (agriculture) student Harpreet Singh would be allowed to go scot free. Pointing out that the state police had already formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case, Captain Amarinder said no laxity would be tolerated and the case would be taken to its logical conclusion.According to the students, Harpreet, who was barred from appearing for his exam over shortage of attendance, had been treated unfairly as there were other students short of attendance who had been allowed to take the exam. Harpreet, they said, was taking private coaching classes for admission into MSc course from some prestigious college, which was the reason for his low attendance.Harpeet’s father has already filed an FIR against the college principal, registrar and head of the agriculture department for abetment to suicide.