M A I N   N E W S

Vaid found hanging in minister’s house
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

FARIDKOT, May 9 — While the dust raised by the death of Harpreet Kaur, daughter of SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur in mysterious circumstances in April is yet to settled, Karam Singh, a vaid (practitioner of traditional medicines) and resident of Jaitu town has been found dead at the private residence of Punjab Agriculture Minister, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, here, last night.

Police sources said Karam Singh was found hanging from a ceiling fan at about 1.45 am in the first floor guard room of the residence of Mr Gurdev Singh Badal. The deceased, reportedly, used a bed sheet to hang himself.

Sources said the body of Karam Singh, was noticed hanging from the ceiling fan by Ram Rakha, a constable of Punjab Police who was on guard duty.

Karam Singh had allegedly gone to the first floor room on the pretext of wanting to rest.

Dr Arun Oaron, SSP, when contacted said that police immediately arranged a post-mortem of the dead body and a case under Section 174 of Cr-P.C. was registered on the complaint of Ram Rakha.

He said the vaid was an acquaintance of Ram Rakha and used to frequent Mr Badal’s residence. Ram Rakha came into contact with him in Jaitu town.

Post-mortem of the dead body was conducted by a panel of three doctors and the viscera sent to a laboratory at Patiala for chemical examination. Further action would be taken after the report of viscera was received. Meanwhile Ram Rakha was being questioned. Neither Mr Badal nor his son, Mr Sube Singh were present at the house at the time according to the police.

Dr J.S. Dalal, State Forensic Expert, Punjab Government and Head, Department of Forensic Science, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, who constituted the team for conducting a post-mortem said there were ligature marks on the neck of the body. There was no marks of assault or injury.

Mr Gurdev Singh Badal was not available for comments at his office or official residence at Chandigarh. A policeman who identified himself as Mesha and was on duty at the Faridkot residence told TNS that Mr Badal had left for a function at Moga and from Moga he would go on to Chandigarh.