30-yr-old man dies in police custody, kin allege torture

DECEASED WAS ALLEGEDLY KEPT IN ILLEGAL POLICE CUSTODY FOR FOUR DAYS; POLICE DENY CHARGE

TARN TARAN: The family of a 30- year- old man, who died after he was allegedly kept in illegal police custody for four days, staged a protest outside the Algon Kothi police post in Tarn Taran district’s Bhikhiwind sub-division on Saturday for more than six hours demanding action against the “guilty” cops.

Gora Singh, a resident of Algon Kothi village, was tortured in illegal detention for at the Valtoha police station in the district, his family members alleged.

The police, however, denied the charges, saying Gora was called for questioning in a case pertaining to house trespass. He was released soon after his questioning was over, they claimed.

The victim’s younger brother Gursahib Singh said police took Gora to Algon Kothi police post on October 19 and was kept in illegal detention before being shifted to the Valtoha police station. “On Thursday night, the police handed over my brother to us saying his health had deteriorated. We immediately took him home and gave him first aid. On Friday morning, we took him to the Tarn Taran civil hospital but he died on the way,” said Gursahib.

“My brother told us that he was physically tortured in Algon Kothi police post as well as Valtoha police station for four days.”

Gora, a divorcee and father of two children, worked as a labourer.

Trespassing allegations levelled, no case registered

Valtoha police station in- charge Balwinder Singh said, “On October 19, Jinder Kaur of Algon Kothi complained that Gora trespassed into her house. We called him for questioning and released him upon the intervention of some villagers. No case was registered.”

“He was called for questioning by sub-inspector (SI) Kewal Singh again but was released. He was not kept in illegal custody. We came to know that he developed some infection and was admitted to hospital. No policeman tortured him. We also came to know that he was thrashed by Jinder Kaur’s relatives when he barged into her house.”