SARINH, LUDHIANA: A 30 year old victim of in human torture by the Punjab police is waging his life’s battle in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee managed hospital at Sannh, 16 km from Ludhiana, with very little hope of survival.
The poorly clad youth, hailing from Kaithal district of Haryana, was dropped near the hospital by two plain clothed policemen last week hoping that his imminent death on account of his inability to withstand the grievous injuries inflicted on him would not bring the blame on them. But he strayed into the hospital where too the authorities hardly bothered to provide him even the basic medical aid till 1 p.m. the next day.
When this correspondent visited the hospital, the youth lay on a mattress on the floor and looked already half dead as his limbs, face and the rest of his body had grown stiff, The doctor in charge, Dr. Surinder Singh, explained that these Were due to the torture in inflated on him with hot iron rods by the police at least 10. days ago, Pus was oozing out of these wounds on both the palms.
The Sikh youth with flowing beard was lying in an unconscious state and was unable to answer questions or even open his eyes. According to the hospital authorities, he could hardly speak on his arrival. He identified himself as Hari Singh, son of Bhan Singh, resident of Theh Banehra village of Haryana.
According to the hospital authorities, Hari Singh was on his way to a dera of a saint at Kaind village near Malerkola when he was picked up by some policemen, who took him to the police station and subjected him to third-degree torture for several days, When he was on the verge of dying, two plainclothed policemen brought him near the hospital. He could not explain more, they added.
Two constables of Punjab police from the Chowki at Gill village stood on guard in the hospital for him. They said that they had been waiting for a sadar police station party to take the victim to the civil hospital at Ludhiana.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 14, 1994
