72-yr-old man died in police custody, alleges family

A 72- year-old retired employee allegedly died in police custody at the Sanaur police station today.

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The deceased was identified as Karamjit Singh, a resident of Sangrur.

The matter snowballed into a controversy when Karamjit’s family members alleged that he had died in the police station due to cops’ torture and demanded a thorough investigation in the matter and strict action against the cops of the police station linked with the case.

The victim’s relatives claimed that the police had acted under “political pressure”, and it was a matter of property dispute.

Karamjit Singh, along with his wife Balwinder Kaur, was taken into custody in a case registered at the Sanaur police station regarding a land dispute.

The incident took place during the early hours today when Karamjit Singh reportedly complained of chest pain and was rushed to hospital, but was declared dead on arrival.

The police station informed Karamjit’s family members about his death on phone.

Chetan Sharma, a family member of the victim, who arrived at Government Rajindra Hospital for the post-mortem, said the elderly couple was picked up by the police from their home on the night of June 25. They were also medically examined and found to be perfectly fine.

He alleged that the police must have been pressuring the elderly couple to transfer the land and seeking a bribe.

Sharma said both parties were of Sangrur, but the case was registered in Sanaur.

Despite repeated attempts, DIG Dr Nanak Singh and SSP Patiala were not available for comments. An official said as per the procedure, a board of doctors performed the autopsy, while a judicial probe was conducted in the matter of the custodial death.