Youth dies in police custody, magisterial probe ordered

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 20

Mystery shrouds the death of a youth, who was taken into preventive custody by the bus stand police chowki here late on Friday evening.

Though police officials claimed that Baljinder Singh of Khanwala village in Ajnala committed suicide by hanging himself with his belt, his family said they were informed only on Saturday morning when his body was sent for autopsy to the Civil Hospital.

The family members gathered at Division-A (Rambagh) police station and demanded action against the cops responsible for the incident.

Lakhwinder Singh, a cousin of the deceased, said Baljinder was living with his mother Rajwant Kaur. He was married but had separated from his wife. He used to work as a carpenter. They received a call from the Rambagh police station this morning that Baljinder had died and his body had been sent to the Civil Hospital for post-mortem examination. He said the family members also noticed some marks around his neck.

Lakhwinder questioned why the bus stand police had arrested Baljinder and put him in the lock up. He could have been left after preliminary investigations. If he had committed suicide, which he could not, the police should have informed the family immediately, rather than waiting till the morning, he said.

Meanwhile, Neeraj Kumar, SHO, Rambagh police station, said Baljinder committed suicide by hanging from the iron rod in the lock up with his belt. “Immediately after the incident, we informed the duty magistrate, who reached the spot and carried out an investigation,” the SHO said. Even the post-mortem examination was conducted under his supervision, he stated.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police JS Walia said a magisterial probe had been initiated into the incident.

Found hanging from iron rod 

• Baljinder Singh was taken into preventive custody by the police in Ajnala late on Friday evening
• On Saturday morning, he was found hanging from an iron rod in the lock-up with his belt
• His family members claimed that they were informed only when his body was sent for autopsy to the Civil Hospital