Sangrur, Sept. 11 -- 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.

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 ar...