HOSHIARPUR, Sept 10 — A former sarpanch of Gogon village, Chuhar Singh who was arrested near Arniala choe by Mahilpur police in a case of poppy husk smuggling died at the local Civil Hospital at 12.30 a.m. last night allegedly from injuries inflicted while in police custody.

Dr S.S. Sharma, Deputy Medical Commissioner, Civil Hospital, Hoshiarpur said Chuhar Singh was brought to the hospital at 4 p.m. yesterday in serious condition.

Dr Harjinder Singh Garg who was on duty advised the accompanying police officials to admit Chuhar Singh to the hospital. He died at 12.30 a.m. last night.

Mrs Surjit Kaur, wife of the deceased, Harjinder Kaur daughter and Kamal Kaur sister alleged that the police had taken Chuhar Singh away from his residence at Gogon village at 11 a.m. on September 5, 2000 without telling his family about the reason for his arrest. When they learnt yesterday that Chuhar Singh had been admitted to the Civil Hospital, Hoshiarpur, they immediately reached there. They said Chuhar Singh had told them before his death that he had been brutally tortured by the police and he was on the verge of collapse when they met him.

Comrade Gurmesh Singh, District Secretary CPM, Comrade Darshan Mattoo, strongly condemned the death of Chuhar Singh and demanded a judicial inquiry into his death.