AMRITSAR: A magisterial enquiry ordered by the District Magistrate of Amritsar to enquire into the causes of death of S. Harpal Singh, a resident of village Jagdev Kalan District Amritsar, has held that Harpal Singh was tortured to death by the police. The Execution magistrate L.D. Hans has indicted the police for murdering Harpal Singh with excessive severe torture. The magistrate has completely ruled out the police theory that Harpal Singh committed suicide while he was in police custody. The magistrate in his twenty five pages enquiry report has held that Harpal Singh was severely beaten by the police after his arrest on June 27, 1988 and this torture resulted in his death.
The District Magistrate Sarbjit Singh has accepted the findings of the report and forwarded it to the District police chief of Majitha GS.Mann who has registered a case under section 302 1.Pc against the main accused ASI Balbir Singh.
The magistrate took three months to complete the probe. He examined ten witness from Jagdev Kalan and adjoining villages and also heard four police men, including Sho Lakhbir Singh.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 2, 1988
