Haryana, Oct 26 (PTI): Two members of a Dalit family allegedly committed suicide within a fortnight in a village in Haryana's Hisar district, sparking protests by locals who have alleged police apathy in the cases. Two policemen have been suspended.

Gurbachan Singh was found hanging from a tree near Chainat village on October 8. Over two weeks later, on Saturday, his uncle Badan Singh was found hanging from a tree.

While police registered a case of suicide, Gurbachan's family alleged foul play - in a complaint, they named three persons, demanding their immediate arrest.

The family also alleges that Badan Singh, who they claim was a key witness in connection with Gurbachan's death, was being pressurised by the three accused to change his statement.

Over 200 villagers gathered at the Civil Hospital in Hansi town on Saturday, demanding suspension of three police officers including Additional Superintendent of Police Jashandeep Randhawa, alleging that they took no action in the Gurbachan suicide case. Sangeeta Kalia, the Superintendent of Police of Fatehabad, rushed to Hansi to control the situation.

Jagbir Singh, the Station House Officer of Sadar Police Station (Hansi), and Investigation Officer Rajbir Singh have been put suspension, the police said.

Police have arrested three persons - Ramesh, Rajbir and Raj Kumar - of the same village in this case. They were produced before a court on Sunday, which remanded them to two-day police custody.

The incident comes close on the heels of the death of a 14-year-old Dalit boy who was found dead on Thursday with wounds all over his body. His family has alleged that he died in police custody.

Last week, two children of a Dalit family were killed when their house was set on fire allegedly by members of an upper caste.