NDPS case undertrial dies, judicial inquiry on in Rupnagar jail
Rupnagar, July 24
An NDPS Act case undertrial at the district jail in Rupnagar died today under mysterious circumstances. The deceased, identified as Charanpreet Singh Channi, a resident of Kubaheri in Mohali, was accused in an NDPS Act case and an attempt to murder case. Family members alleged physical torture by jail authorities during an inquiry over a mobile phone recovery inside the jail a few days ago.
Jail authorities said that Charanpreet was brought to the Civil Hospital today morning around 4 am when his medical condition deteriorated. Later, he was declared dead. The dead body has been kept in the mortuary of the hospital for post-mortem examination. A judicial inquiry is underway to ascertain the cause of the death. The District and Sessions Judge has marked a judicial inquiry and a Judicial Magistrate is recording the statements of the inmates and the family members in the case.
After the incident, inmates staged a protest and a hunger strike inside the jail.
Avinash, an inmate who was granted bail on Tuesday, claimed that three more inmates were brought to the hospital today morning but were taken back after treatment. Taking to mediapersons at the Civil Hospital, Avinash alleged that the mobile phones and narcotics are available for Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 in the jail. IG Jails Roop Kumar Arora said no such thing has been reported.
