Inmate injured in attack by fellow prisoners

Amritsar, March 3

An inmate identified as Navpreet Singh was attacked and seriously injured on Saturday evening by several other prisoners allegedly at the behest of a drug peddler currently lodged in the Bathinda jail. Suspects attacked the victim with sharpened spoons and iron rods.

The victim was admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH) where he was under treatment. The police said a complaint would be lodged in this regard. Further investigation was in progress.

According to information, the entire incident was streamed live by suspects on mobile phone to drug traffickers identified as Laddi, alias Daddu, and Morinda, both lodged in the Bathinda jail. Besides Laddi and Morinda, the victim also named several other jail inmates, including Kala, Chanchal, Kanna, Akshay, Ajay Thakur and Jatin, among others, who attacked him.

Victim’s brother Lovedeep Singh alleged that the suspects were pressurising Navpreet to sell narcotics on the jail premises, but he had refused to do so. Navpreet was lodged in the jail in case of a quarrel, he said.

Lovedeep said yesterday he got a call from the police that Navpreet was admitted to the GNDH in a serious condition. “When we arrived at the hospital, he was serious,” he said. He said Navpreet named several prisoners who attacked him. He urged the police to register an FIR and take stern action against those responsible for the assault on his brother.

As per information, Laddi was arrested by the city police for drug peddling. Laddi was lodged in Amritsar Central Jail where he allegedly started supplying drugs. Later, he was transferred to the Bathinda jail. It was alleged that Laddi was in touch with his accomplices here on mobile phone.

Gurinder Singh, SHO, Islamabad police station, said the victim was admitted to the GNDH. He said a case was being registered in this regard.