Custodial death: PSHRC seeks detailed report from DGP, SSP

The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the custodial death of a youth who allegedly died in the Jandiala Guru police station, triggering massive protests by family members and relatives who blocked the Amritsar-Jalandhar national highway on Sunday.

The family has accused the police of brutally torturing the victim, leading to his death.

The commission has sought a detailed report from the Director General of Police (DGP), the Deputy Commissioner, and the SSP, Amritsar (Rural), regarding the action taken so far. They have been directed to submit their report a week before the next hearing, scheduled for January 27, 2026.

A judicial probe has already begun, and a post-mortem was conducted today by a three-member medical board. Gurpreet Singh, alias Harman, had been arrested by the police on December 6 in a Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) case. He and four others were lodged in the police lock-up when his condition suddenly deteriorated. He was rushed to Manawala Civil Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Balwinder Kaur, mother of the deceased, said he had been detained for questioning following a quarrel in the village. She claimed his uncle had met him in custody and found him normal at that time.

While taking suo motu cognizance, the commission asked authorities to submit the judicial inquiry report, the post-mortem report with videography, a detailed report from the Senior Superintendent of Police, Amritsar (Rural), details of the officials posted at the police station at the time, the chemical examination report, the cause of death as explained by the medical board, and the treatment administered at the hospital.

According to information, the judicial officer has recorded statements of other suspects in the lock-up, the police personnel present at the time, and the doctors who examined the victim and later conducted the autopsy.