Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Friday maintained that he has been informed that Shubhkaran Singh, the 22-year-old farmer from Bathinda, tragically succumbed to a fatal “firearm” injury during the fervent ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest at the Khanauri border on February 21.

Dr Balbir said that Shubhkaran was rushed to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, after sustaining a critical head injury during the protest. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

The post-mortem conducted on Wednesday night confirmed the cause of death as a firearm shot to the head, said Dr Balbir, adding that he was yet to see the report as he was preoccupied with the ongoing Vidhan Sabha session. “I have not seen the post-mortem report yet, but I have been informed that Shubhkaran died due to a firearm injury in his brain,” he said.

The autopsy report indicated that Shubhkaran passed away on the spot, with “metal pellets” discovered lodged in his brain. While no bullet was recovered, the presence of metal pellets suggested the use of rubber bullets, as speculated by fellow protesters, during the confrontation with Haryana Police.

Punjab Government is yet to release the full post-mortem report, a move that could potentially implicate the Haryana Police in the tragic incident. Despite earlier denials by the Haryana DGP regarding the use of pellet guns, Dr Balbir had previously accused the police of employing "illegal pellet guns" against protestors, resulting in severe injuries.

Pellets, whether metal or rubber, are typically loaded into short or long-range air guns and can prove fatal if they penetrate vital organs.

With several theories going around as of now, the official post-mortem report can only put an end to all speculation and give the final answer to all the questions arising out of the young farmer’s tragic death.