Amritsar, July 4
Relatives of Mohan Lal (26), a rickshaw-puller who was allegedly tortured to death by the Jammu police, and residents of Mahal village today blocked traffic for more than five hours at Wagah bypass.

The youth was picked up along with others of the village by the police on suspicion of being a member of the “kale kachhewale” gang. The body of Mohal Lal was sent to the village in a private vehicle. Leaders of the CPI, Mr Mohinder Singh Walia and Mr Joginder Lal, and Mr Joginder Singh, district president of the BSP also reached the spot.

The relatives of the deceased alleged that Mohan Lal was given electric shocks in police custody. Mr Ashwani Kapur, DSP, and a large posse of policemen had a tough time controlling the protesters. Mr Kultar Singh, district police chief, assured the protesters that he would order another post-mortem examination, and on the basis of the report, opinion would be sought from the district attorney to take action against those responsible for the death.

Tara Chand, working as a safai karamchari at the Army camp in Jammu, said he too was taken into custody by the police but he was released following the intervention of certain politicians. He alleged that the DSP (City) had threatened to hang him upside down if he spoke against the police. He also alleged that seven youths picked up from Amritsar were “still missing”.

The SSP, Amritsar, said his Jammu counterpart had told him that the youth had died of severe pneumonia and the hospital record was with him (SSP, Jammu).