MUKTSAR: A Congress candidate, who was allegedly forced to withdraw from the municipal council election contest in Muktsar by his political opponents, committed suicide on Friday by jumping into a canal. Rajan Painter was under depression after being forced to sit out, his family members claimed.

According to TOI News, Rajan had filed nomination from ward number 29 of Muktsar and withdrawn his papers on February 16. His father Mangli Ram, a resident of Kotli road in Muktsar, alleged, “The rival party leaders had threatened him, to make him take back his nomination. He was under immense pressure and withdrew from the contest.” However, he did not name anybody for threatening his son.

Rajan’s sister-in-law Neetu said he had received threatening calls and “was under stress after withdrawing from the elections”.

Congress MLA from Muktsar, Karan Kaur Brar claimed, “Our worker had to lose his life due to threats from the opponents. We demand a fair investigation into the incident and those guilty of forcing him to commit suicide should be brought to book.”

“Police have come to know about the suicide of a Congress member who had withdrawn from the contest. We will investigate whether any political leader had threatened him to withdraw from the contest,” said Muktsar senior superintendent of police Kuldeep Singh Chahal.