Cong worker dies in custody

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 2

A Congress worker, identified as Bittu Shah of Guru Ram Dass Nagar on the Sultanwind road, died in custody at Gate Hakima police station here this evening. His family members alleged that he had been tortured to death. He was picked up by the police around 6 pm. The family members were informed when his health deteriorated. The police asked them to take him away. When they reached the police station, he had already died. He is survived by wife and two children.

Enraged family members and others allegedly indulged in stone-pelting in which two policemen were injured.

Chand Bhatti, nephew of the deceased, said a police team had gone to arrest a youth. Bittu Shah, president of the SC wing of the Congress from his ward, reached there and tried to intervene. He alleged that the police also took Bittu to the police station.

Jugal Kishore Sharma, president of the district Congress committee, said he would seek details of the incident.

The police have sent the body for a post-mortem examination.

JS Walia, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, said the matter was being investigated.