Verbal duel takes ugly turn at Amritsar Central Jail, inmate dies

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 7

A jail inmate died while two others were injured, when a group of prisoners assaulted them in the high-security Amritsar Central Jail here on Sunday.

The victim identified as Lakhwinder Singh, alias Lakha Baba (48), was lodged in the jail in a murder case, while the suspects were languishing on the charges of robberies and snatchings.

Those booked were Avtar Singh, alias Tari of Jhitte Khurd village; Sultan Singh of Eshapur village; Gurjant Singh of Mehndipur village, Tarn Taran; and Harpreet Singh of Amritsar. All of them were lodged in room number 6 of barrack number 5.

A jail official wishing not to be named said the incident occurred in the same barrack in the heat of the moment following some minor verbal duel. Lakha Baba along with Sajandeep of Manawala Kalan and Lovepreet Singh of Sabhran in Patti in Tarn Taran were having dinner in the barrack, when the accused attacked Baba with some sharp iron strip. Lakha suffered deep injuries on his arms and legs while there was no visible head injuries as the deceased was wearing a turban. Sajandeep and Lovepreet also suffered injures while they tried to save Lakha.

The victims were sent to the Civil Hospital for the medico legal report (MLR). However, his condition suddenly deteriorated in the hospital and he died apparently of cardiac arrest. The post-mortem of the deceased was conducted on Monday, which would ascertain the exact cause of his death.

Jatinder Singh, in-charge Fatahpur police chowki, said initially a case under Sections 307, 323, 148 and 149 of the IPC and Section 52 of the Prisons Act was registered against the suspects. Later, it was amended and section of murder (302 of the IPC) was added to the FIR. He said the accused would be arrested after bringing them from jail to ascertain what prompted them to fight and the circumstances that led to Lakha’s death. 

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