JALANDHAR: A farm worker died allegedly of torture in police custody in the city, police sources said.

‘The victim, Jail Singh Jaila’s family, who are residents of Jandiala, were sitting in the Civil Hospital awaiting the report of a post monern examination following the intervention of three Punjab ministers,

The District Magistrate has reportedly ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death after he was summoned by three ministers when a deputation of Congress men led by AICC member Darshan Singh Chaudhary met the ministers Umrao Singh, Chaudhary, Jagjit Singh and Mahinder Singh Kaypee -in the Circuit House here. The Deputy Commissioner promised financial help to the bereaved family from the Ked Cross fund, Chaudhary said.

Chaudhary who, along with former Congress minister Darshan Singh Kaypee and Punjab Youth Congress leader Anil Dutta, led a deputation to the ministers claimed that Jail Singh was first picked up by the Nurmahal police on July 22, but was freed after five days of interrogation,

In a statement here, the AICC member alleged that Jail Singh was again picked up by the Jalandhar cantonment police on July 29 and tortured for two days and then handed over to police station no 2 in the city for further interrogation.

Chaudhary quoting Minister of State for Sports Mahinder Singh Kaypee said when the latter rang up the SHO of police division number two, the SHO promised to release Jail Singh after consulting senior officers since he was found to be innocent. The AICC member said they later learnt that following the minister’s intervention, the police tried to admit Jail Singh in a private hospital in the city, but the doctor there refused to admit him because he was dead when brought to the hospital,

Chaudhary said the Deputy Commissioner had agreed to order an inquiry to be conducted by the Phillaur Sub divisional Magistrate into the death.

The Congress leaders demanded a judicial probe into the death and registration of a case of murder against the guilty police officials.

Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 28, 1992