Congress leader dies in police custody, kin protest
AMRITSAR INCIDENT Death occurs an hour after cops pick him from his house
AMRITSAR:A 35-year-old local Congress leader died on Sunday evening in the Gate Hakima police station of Amritsar city barely an hour after he was rounded up for questioning.
Bittu Shah, a resident of Guru Ram Das Nagar and president of the Congress’ scheduled cast (SC) wing from ward number 63, was picked from his house when he intervened after a police team arrived in the locality to arrest someone else, his family said.
He is survived by his wife and two children. Soon after his death, Bittu’s family members and relatives along with local residents reached the police station and started protesting against the police by keeping the body on the road. They pelted the police station stones, leaving two policemen injured.
Additional deputy commissioner of police Jagjit Singh Walia along with police force reached the police station and brought the situation under control.
The deceased’s nephew, Chand Bhatti said, “The cops came around 6pm to arrest someone and unnecessarily took my uncle to the police station. Around 8:30pm, we came to know that he had died. The police applied third degree torture on him. We will continue our protest till a case of murder is not registered against the erring policemen.” The protest was on till filling the report.
ADCP Walia said the police team went to Guru Ram Das Nagar after getting a tip-off and rounded up Bittu and another man. Bittu’s health deteriorated and the police admitted him to a private hospital where he died.
He, however, did not clarify whether police had any tip-off against Bittu or he was picked for mere intervening in someone else’s matter. Post-mortem on the body will be conducted on Monday. The autopsy will be videographed ,” he added.