M A I N   N E W S

Custodial death accused ASI gets ‘VIP treatment’;
IG orders probe
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 3
The Assistant Sub-Inspector who was declared proclaimed offender in connection with the ‘custodial death’ of 17-year-old school boy Pardeep Singh of Yamarai village in Tarn Taran was allegedly given ‘VIP treatment’ in the office of DSP (D), Majitha, who was directed to conduct the inquiry on the direction of the Punjab Human Rights Commission.

However, the police had a tough time when the widowed mother and other relatives of the deceased raised objection over the presence of the accused in the office. The police officials allegedly tried to force the complainant to reach a compromise with the accused which they resisted.

The complainants were told that the accused, Harbhajan Singh, was called to the office of investigating officer to get his statement recorded so that a reply could be filed to the human rights commission. However, the complainants said a person declared proclaimed offender could not roam freely.

Perturbed over the development, the complainants approached the Inspector-General Police (Border Range), Mr S.K. Sharma, who directed the DSP, Mr Lakhwinder Singh, to arrest the accused.

The DSP confirmed that the IG had given him directions in this regard. He said he was investigating whether the accused ASI was given ‘VIP treatment’ by his reader or not. However, his reader, Mr Palwinder Singh, left the office immediately after ordering an inquiry by the IG.

About one and a half years ago on December 22, 2001, the ASI had stopped the schoolboy at Jamarai police naka under the Tarn Taran police district while he was coming from Gandiwind where he had gone to visit widowed mother.

It was alleged that the police had asked the boy to empty his wallet and later he was taken into custody where he was beaten to death. However, the police claimed that the boy had committed suicide by hanging himself. The complainant had alleged that with a view to cover up the custodial death, the police had made out a case under the NDPS Act against the boy.