M A I N   N E W S

"Tortured" by CBI, Nishan in hospital
From Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Nov 16 — A badly bruised Nishan Singh, the Personal Security Officer of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC ) President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, who is the prime accused in the Harpreet death case, was today admitted in the emergency ward of Government Rajindra Hospital here.

The Special CBI Magistrate had yesterday ordered the medical examination of Nishan Singh, a day after he was awarded a judicial remand till November 21. A friend of Nishan Singh had in an affidavit yesterday claimed that the former was tortured while in CBI custody and that he should be examined medically.

Nishan Singh was brought to the hospital here in the afternoon and soon after, his medical examination was started. Hospital sources disclosed that superficial injuries were apparent on the body of the security officer when he was brought to the hospital and his X-rays were being taken to ascertain the extent of injuries. He also showed bruises on the muscles of his arms, on his legs which were still swollen and his thighs to TNS.

Nishan Singh claimed that he was tortured by the investigation agency during the period of his police remand from November 4 to 12. He claimed that he had been tortured in the special investigation cell of the CBI on the Dalhousie road in Delhi.

He said during the period of police remand, he was never taken to any spot with regard to the investigation in the cause of the death of Harpreet. He said he was only shifted from one room to another in the investigation cell, adding that he was never taken to any hospital for check-up during this period and that the agency officers were able to get favourable reports of his health from hospital doctors in Delhi.

The Bibi’s Personal Security Officer disclosed that he was pressurised by the investigation agency to turn state approver in the case. He said he was also pressurised to sign a statement which would help prove that poison was administered to Harpreet Kaur, daughter of the SGPC Chief, which resulted in her death.

Nishan Singh claimed that wooden rollers were used on his legs and thighs, besides use of some metal objects in gloves to administer blows on his head and hands. He said he was also mentally tortured by not being allowed to sleep for the entire duration of his police remand. He said he was also shown newspapers clippings which indicated that Bibi Jagir Kaur would not be nominated as President of the SGPC in the coming elections for the post to dilute his resolve.

He said he had volunteered to stand a lie detector test as well as allow administration of an ‘injection of truth’ for which he said he had given in writing. He said despite all attempts, he did not oblige the investigating agency by signing any document while in their custody. He claimed two to three persons were put on him on the last day of his police remand to apply medicine on his body. He said he had not disclosed the CBI torture earlier as he had been threatened by the agency that they would in that case seek his further police remand.