5 min readSangrurUpdated: Sep 10, 2026 03:58 AM IST
The grieving family of Gulzar Singh. (Harmeet Sodhi)A narrow lane with open drains on either side leads to the house of . There are barely eight houses in the lane, and Gulzar’s house stands at the very end.
Now, the bare two-room house, with unplastered walls, also finds itself at the centre of a simmering controversy, following the death of Gulzar, 53, an agricultural labourer, apparently by suicide, pained over the unchecked supply of drugs in his village and his son’s addiction.
He is said to have consumed pesticide soon after trying to question Punjab Finance Minister and Dirba MLA Harpal Singh Cheema, who was visiting Toor Banzara, over what the government was doing to keep drugs away from youngsters like his son.