NEW DELHI: A fact finding team of the Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) has demanded a judicial who died in police custody at Narwana in District Jind, Haryana on Nov .8, 1993.

Gyani Ram 27 was brought to the Government Hospital Narwana in a Semi-conscious state on the evening of Nov.8, 1993 it was diagnosed as a case of poisoning possibly by a pesticide used in grain Storage.

Gyani Ram died the following morning after having made a declaration that he was badly beaten up by the Police on the morning of November 8. When he asked for water he was given a liquid which made him vomit. Constable Rulda Ram then forced him to cat two pills after consuming which he fell. Unconscious Gyani Ram said

According to the PUDR report Gyani Ram was a resident of Karam garh village about 10km from Narwana. On November 8 he left home early to go to Narwana to make some Diwali purchases. According to one Ramphal a witness Gyani Ram was approached by Constable Rulda Ram of the Narwana police station who accused him of peddling drugs.

He was searched by policemen and when no drugs were found in his Possession the constable dragged him. to the police station some 200 yards Away There are two versions of what happened in the police station-one by the police and one by eyewitnesses which Gyani Rams dying declaration corroborates.

The police says Gyani Ram was brought to the police station on the charge of peddling drugs. Once there he asked for water took some tablets from his pocket and swallowed them. Immediately he was taken ill and taken to the hospital by two policemen Rulda Ram and another person not known to the SHO. This account the SHO corroborates with statements given on November 11. The statements by 11 people go against Gyani Rams dying declaration.

Kishan Singh a resident of Karam garh village was present at the hospital when Gyani Ram was brought there Reorganizing him he went to the village to inform his family. Gyani Rams brother Manphool Singh came rushing to the hospital after some time

Meanwhile doctors at the hospital had sent two messages to the police Station saying the patient’s condition was critical and they should immediately arrange to record his statement. The doctors suspected poisoning but managed to bring Gyani Ram to consciousness.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 14, 1994