Day after suicide bid, SAD ex-leader Anwar Masih stable

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 14

Former Subordinate Staff Selection Board member and SAD leader Anwar Masih, who had attempted suicide outside the Special Task Force office here yesterday, is stated to be out of danger now as his condition is stable.

Dr HP Singh, medical superintendent of the private hospital where he is admitted, said Masih had been shifted out of the intensive care unit.

Masih was protesting against the alleged harassment by a former AIG and three DSP-rank officials of the STF. He was demanding quashing of a case against him in connection with the seizure of 194 kg heroin and other chemicals from a residential building at Akash Avenue in Sultanwind village on January 31, 2020.

He managed to get interim bail around eight months ago on the basis of health grounds. On Monday, the court of Additional Sessions Judge had rejected his interim bail and asked him to report to the Amritsar Central Jail in a week.

Before consuming the poison, he said: “I have announced that I will die by suicide if STF harasses me or registers a case against me. In the past three decades, I was serving my community whole heartedly and not even a single DDR was registered against me. But I cannot bear this humiliation.” He alleged that the AIG and the three DSPs demanded Rs 20 lakh and an SUV from him.

As the building from where the heroin was seized belonged to Masih, the STF booked him under Section 25 of the NDPS Act (owner of the place where drug trade is being carried out is responsible for the premises). The STF had arrested around 20 persons in the case.