Navreet Singh death: Eyewitnesses, family accuse police; expert says wounds consistent with bullet injury; police deny

Two eyewitnesses and family members have alleged that Navreet Singh, a 25-year-old farmer from Uttar Pradesh, died after he was shot during the farmers’ rally in Delhi on 26 January. The eyewitnesses told The Caravan that they saw police officials fire at Navreet, and that his tractor overturned seconds later. According to the post-mortem report, Navreet died as “a result of antemortem head injury.” Hardip Singh Dibdiba, Navreet’s grandfather, who examined his grandson’s body, alleged that the post-mortem report is inaccurate—despite recording wounds consistent with a gunshot, it did not mention bullet injuries as the likely cause of death, he said.

The Delhi Police has denied the allegations of the eyewitnesses and the family. Jasmeet Singh, the deputy commissioner of police for Delhi’s central district, told The Caravan that “no bullet was fired.” Referring to the post-mortem report, the DCP said that it “clearly states the cause of death.” Despite repeated requests, he refused to answer queries pertaining to the details of the incident.