The controversy over the alleged suicide of a 47-year-old Dalit man at Dirba in Sangrur escalated on Thursday with his family alleging forcible cremation of the body, a charge denied by the police.Following the incident, the police registered an FIR against five residents of the village, four of whom were arrested. (PTI)The family said they will not hold the customary ‘bhog’ ceremony and collect ashes until they get justice in the matter. The Dalit man died on Monday night after allegedly consuming poison, with his family claiming he was harassed and subjected to casteist slurs for questioning finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema about the supply of drugs in the area during an event on Sunday. The body was cremated on Tuesday.Following the incident, the police registered an FIR against five residents of the village, four of whom were arrested. An SIT has also been formed to investigate the matter further.In a purported video released on Thursday, the Dalit man’s son alleged that the cremation of his father was done forcibly and that his brother was misled into cremating the body. “We appeal that till justice is done, we will neither hold ‘bhog’ nor collect his ashes,” he said.The family demanded action against Cheema, panchayat members and the sarpanch who were “named” by the Dalit man before he died. “No agreement was reached and the cremation was held forcibly because heavy police forces from different districts were deployed,” the victim’s son said, adding that the administration gave them a cheque for ₹5 lakh as financial assistance on Thursday and his brother was promised a government job.Dirba deputy superintendent of police Rupinder Kaur Bajwa denied the allegations and said the family performed the cremation themselves. She said a heavy police force was deployed to maintain law and order.Finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema did not immediately respond to calls for comment.Also Read: NGT summons Sangrur DC over ₹84-lakh unpaid fine, legacy waste‘Threats’ pushed Dalit man to suicide: SC panelThe National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) claimed that the dalit man took the extreme step after “threats and intimidation”.NCSC chairman Kishor Makwana visited the village on Thursday and said: “The family has said that they were threatened and intimidated. They have also demanded action against the minister. According to the family, some of its members were not allowed to go to the cremation site,” Makwana said.He assured the victim’s kin that the NCSC would take all necessary steps and stand by them.Also Read: NCSC chairman claims threats pushed Punjab villager to suicideOppn leaders face backlashHigh political drama unfolded as visiting delegations from the BJP and Congress faced protests by local AAP workers and villagers while trying to meet the Dalit man’s family.The BJP delegation, led by state chief Kewal Singh Dhillon faced intense hostility, with AAP protesters intercepting their vehicles both when travelling to and returning from the village.Simultaneously, Congress leader and former CM Charanjit Singh Channi encountered an identical backlash upon arrival.AAP’s state general secretary (organisation) Baltej Pannu said the BJP’s attempt to play the caste card in Punjab had once again met with a strong public rejection, with villagers chasing away its leaders and delivering a message that divisive politics has no place in Punjab.Cong demands FIR against ministerChanni, who met the family, demanded an FIR against Cheema. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has condemned the alleged forcible cremation of the Dalit man, accusing the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government of being “criminally callous” and “arrogantly insensitive” towards the grieving family.Also Read: BJP protests over Sangrur daily wager’s suicide after questioning ministerBJP seeks CBI InquiryDhillon, who also met the victim’s family, said the BJP has demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter and has also met the governor regarding it.Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal too lashed out at the AAP government saying the consent of the victim’s family was not taken for the cremation. The AAP has been exposed, he said.