India’s National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has issued a notice to the Punjab government following the suicide of a Dalit laborer who accused a state minister and local officials of harassment after he publicly raised concerns about the region's drug problem.

The regulatory body stepped in after receiving a complaint from Sheetal Angural, state president of the BJP SC Morcha and a former legislator. According to the commission, the victim, Gulzar Singh, a resident of Toorbanjara village in Sangrur district, had confronted Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the widespread drug issue.

Before his death, Singh released a video on social media alleging he consumed poison due to intimidation by the minister and pressure from several village council members.

Invoking its mandate under Article 338 of the Indian Constitution, the NCSC has directed Punjab’s chief secretary and director general of police to submit a detailed fact-finding and action-taken report within five days.

NCSC Chairman Kishor Makwana termed the incident exceptionally serious and declared that an independent, high-level inquiry is mandatory. Makwana announced he will personally visit Sangrur on Sept. 10 to investigate the allegations and meet with the victim's family.

News of the commission's intervention came as Singh was cremated Tuesday in Toorbanjara amid heightened tension, heavy police presence, and chanting by protesters.