Rs 10 lakh for SAD worker’s family, CM orders probe

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, April 12

Following the death of a SAD worker during police raid to search for illicit liquor at his house at Tarmala village in Lambi, the government today handed over a cheque for Rs10 lakh to the family and ordered a magisterial probe.

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has asked Malout SDM Vishesh Sarangal to probe the incident and submit report in a week.

The cremation of 62-year-old Gurdev Singh was attended by former CM Parkash Singh Badal and senior SAD leaders of the area. They demanded a government job for the family as well.

Congress MLA from Malout Ajaib Singh Bhatti visited the family and handed them a cheque of Rs10 lakh.

Meanwhile, the cause of the death could not be ascertained in the post-mortem, which was conducted by a board of three doctors at the Civil Hospital, Malout.

“There were only minor scratches on one side of forehead and one elbow, which could not establish anything. We have now sent the heart of deceased to Faridkot to know if he died due to cardiac arrest. Besides, the viscera samples have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory, Kharar,” said a doctor.

Baljot Singh Rathore, SSP, Muktsar, said: “The investigation is underway and as of now, only ASI incharge of Bhai Ka Kera police post Gurdeep Singh has been booked and arrested in the case.”

Policemen resent FIR

A majority of the local policemen expressed resentment that the case was hurriedly registered. "It should have been delayed till the inquiry report. At the most, the cops who were part of the raiding team could have been suspended," said a police official.

Badal: cops misusing anti-drug drive

Former CM Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday took a dig at the Congress government, saying that it failed to maintain law and order even for a month after coming to power. “Cops are thrashing people in the name of anti-drug campaign,” he said