Undertrial ends life in Gurdaspur central jail
An undertrial, identified as Kulwinder Singh allegedly committed suicide at the central jail here by hanging himself in a bath room on Wednesday. As many as 100 residents of Hardo Bathwala, the village of the deceased, staged a dharna and blocked traffic at the Post Office Chowk on the GT Road.
An undertrial, identified as Kulwinder Singh allegedly committed suicide at the central jail here by hanging himself in a bath room on Wednesday.
As many as 100 residents of Hardo Bathwala, the village of the deceased, staged a dharna and blocked traffic at the Post Office Chowk on the GT Road here in protest against the death of Kulwinder, who was arrested with 1.5 kg of poppy husk on June 7.
The police had booked him under sections 15, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act and sent him to Gurdaspur central jail the next day. Kulwinder reportedly ended his life as he alleged that the police had registered a false case against him.
Daler Singh, a nephew of the deceased, told Hindustan Times that his uncle was whisked away by Gurdaspur narcotic cell incharge inspector Baldev Singh from his home in Hardo Bathwala village, but the FIR said that he was arrested at Gajnipur village.
He also claimed that nothing objectionable was recovered from Kulwinder and he was framed by inspector Baldev Singh due to some “personal enmity”.
The protesters held inspector Baldev Singh responsible for the death of Kulwinder Singh, who leaves behind three minor children--one son and two daughters.
His family members demanded registration of a murder case against the inspector.
When contacted, Gurdaspur SSP Sukhwant Singh Gill defended inspector Baldev Singh, saying that he could not be held responsible for the death of Kulwinder Singh as he had died in judicial custody at the local central jail. Gurdaspur central jail superintendent Surinder Singh Saini could not be contacted despited HT’s repeated attempts.
District magistrate Abhinav Trikha immediately informed the State Human Rights Commission about the death of Kulwinder Singh. The judicial magistrate will enquire into the cause of the death of the undertrial.
Gurdaspur civil hospital senior medical officer, Dr Hans, told Hindustan Times that Kulwinder Singh was brought dead to the hospital. The talks between the police officers and the agitated relatives of the deceased were on at the time of filing this report.