Congress leaders detained during Punjab protest over villager's death

Congress leaders led by Sachin Pilot and Partap Bajwa were detained by police using water cannons during a protest in Chandigarh demanding the removal of Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.

The protest followed the suicide on September 7 of Gulzar Singh, a Dalit man from Sangrur who allegedly faced casteist harassment after questioning Mr. Cheema about local drug availability.

Police registered a case under the SC/ST Act and booked five individuals for abetment of suicide, while opposition leaders demanded the resignations of the Finance Minister and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.