Kurukshetra – Sikh Activist Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa, who had been protesting for the last several years demanding the release of Sikh political prisoners, allegedly committed suicide at his native Thaska Ali village in the district on Tuesday evening.
Confirming the incident, SP Abhishek Garg said Gurbaksh Singh jumped from an overhead water tank where he was holding a protest demanding the release of Sikh Political Prisoners. He was rushed to the Lok Naik Jai Prakash Civil Hospital where he was pronounced dead, the SP added.
Police sources said Khalsa and his supporters gathered at Thaska Ali, near Ismailabad block, in the afternoon. After being presented a ‘siropa’ by the family members of various Sikh leaders lodged in various jails, Khalsa climbed atop the water tank.
He was reportedly holding a dharna atop the water tank in support of his demands and allegedly jumped from there in the evening.
As the news of Khalsa’s death spread, Sikh sympathisers started gathering near the hospital at Kurukshetra University. The road was blocked by the slogan raising protesters.
Meanwhile, the district authorities have put the police personnel on alert.
Khalsa had been seeking the release of Sikh prisoners languishing in jails despite, according to him, having completed their terms. In November 2013, he went on a 44-day hunger strike at a gurdwara in Punjab’s Mohali. He ended his strike on December 27, 2013 after reportedly getting an assurance from the government.