Judicial probe initiated into jail inmate’s death

Amritsar, September 2

Adding a twist to the mysterious death of a jail inmate identified as Rahul, a resident of Chhota Haripura, the police have registered an FIR against the deceased on charges of assaulting public servants and violating the jail norms.

The case was registered following a complaint filed by Prabhdayal Singh, Assistant Superintendent (Jail), under Sections 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty) and 221(obstructing public servant in discharging of public function) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 52 of the Prisons Act was registered against Rahul. As per the complaint, Rahul quarrelled with jail staff and tried to forcibly come out of the barrack.

The family members of the deceased held demonstration outside the Amritsar Central Jail on Sunday. They alleged that a jail official had physically tortured Rahul which led to his death.

They alleged that Rahul was picked up by the police on frivolous grounds and sent to judicial custody over a month ago. Rahul’s kin alleged that he called them and told that a Deputy Superintendent had tortured him. A few days later, Rahul demanded Rs 7 lakh from his family members as he was being harassed and tortured in jail. Rahul was also not allowed to meet the family, his kin alleged. They alleged that Rahul was killed on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, a judicial probe was initiated into Rahul’s death. A post-mortem of the body of the deceased was conducted by a medical board comprising doctors in the presence of Judicial Magistrate Garima Gupta.