Killed During Farmers' Protest, Shubhkaran Singh Was 'Injured in Skull'; Gun Pellets May be Sent to Ballistics Experts

Protesting farmer Shubhkaran Singh, who was killed during clashes between farmers and Haryana security personnel at the Khanauri border point last week, died of a firearm injury, according to the post-mortem report. The report also indicated the presence of ‘foreign bodies’ in his head.

A native of Bhatinda, 21-year-old Shubhkaran was killed and 12 security personnel were injured in clashes at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border on February 21. The incident took place when some protesting farmers were trying to head towards police barricades, put up to halt their “Delhi Chalo” march.

According to a Hindustan Times report, a CT scan conducted before the autopsy showed several metal pellets in his head. The post-mortem examination also found an injury mark on the occipital region (the rearmost region of the skull) and showed that his body bore no other injury marks, as per the report seen by Hindustan Times.

The metal pellets found in Shubhkaran’s skull were also handed over to the police, which may be sent to ballistics experts to ascertain the nature of the firearm that caused his death, people close to the matter said.

Doctors said they submitted the report to the Patiala police.

Shubhkaran was cremated on Thursday.

Meanwhile, seven days after his death, Punjab Police on Wednesday night registered a case of murder.

The Punjab Police has registered a case under sections 302 (murder) and 114 (abettor present when an offence is committed) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Patran Police Station in Patiala.

According to the FIR filed on the complaint of Shubhkaran’s father, the case has been registered against an unidentified person and the place of occurrence has been shown as Garhi in Haryana’s Jind district.

Punjab IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill said, “In the matter of Shubhkaran (Singh), after consulting the legal experts, Punjab Police has registered zero FIR. Further investigation will be done as per law. His family is performing his last rites today. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann provided compensation of Rs 1 Crore to the family and a daughter in the family is being given the job of a Constable…”