DRUG DEATHS: THREE COPS SUSPENDED FOR INACTION

AMRITSAR:The district police suspended a station house officer (SHO) and two assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs) for not taking action against the accused in two overdose deaths in Kaler Ghuman and Shezada villages.

Those suspended are Khalchian SHO Paramjit Singh, ASIs Talwinder Singh and Kewal Singh, posted at Khalchian and Kathunangal, respectively.

SSP Parampal Singh said besides suspending the three cops, a departmental probe has also been initiated against the then Lopoke SHO Kamal Kaushal over a case of drug overdose death at Chak Mishri Khan. He said Hakamjit Singh of Kaler Ghuman died on April 6 and Rajbir Singh of Shezada on April 25. He said the families blamed some people but the SHO and the ASIs didn’t register cases.

Rajbir’s father Preetam Singh of Sehzada village had alleged that Bhindu and Joga Singh of the same village had initiated his son

KIN OF THE VICTIMS BLAMED SOME PEOPLE, BUT THESE POLICEMEN DID NOT REGISTER CASES

into drugs. Dalbir Singh of Kaler Ghuman village had alleged his son Hakamjit Singh was treated at a drugs de-addiction centre, but Shinda, Sukhu, Chamkaur and Jasbir of the same village had taken him away on April 5. The accused administered him drugs and also hid his body in the village.

Now, the police have booked the accused in both the cases under murder charges and for culpable homicide. In the third incident from Ajnala, Surjit Singh died of overdose on April 25. His mother alleged that Mukhtar Singh, his wife and their son and daughter forcibly administered him drugs as he had been trying to stop them from selling these.