Khalra (Amritsar), June 11
Residents of the town observed a near-total badh today even as an Assistant Sub-Inspector, Surjit Singh, was arrested in connection with the alleged custodial death of Jaspal Singh, a farmer of Dhunna village. Meanwhile, Jaspal Singh was cremated at his native village after a post-mortem examination.

The victim’s relatives alleged that Charnjit Bittu and Brahm Dutt, both commission agents, and Dutt’s son had forcibly taken Jagtar Singh, elder brother of the deceased, to a police station. They forced Jaspal Singh to appear before the SHO through village elders, including Mr Mehnga Singh, Sarpanch of Dhunna village. The relatives of the deceased alleged that Bittu, who had publicly humiliated and intimidated family members of Jaspal Singh, who owed money to Brahm Dutt. They alleged that Bittu had been facing criminal cases, including a rape case, and had two firearms in his possession.

Sources said the commission agents involved in the harassment of the farmer were confidants of a Cabinet minister who had put pressure on the police to save the arhtiyas, the SHO and the ASI allegedly involved in the case

Mr Rattan Singh Randhawa, district secretary of the CPM, sought the registration of a murder case against SHO Buta Singh. He gave seven days ultimatum for giving exemplary punishment to police officials, including the SHO, for killing Jaspal Singh in police custody. Mr Gurcharn Dass, president of the Kacha Arhtiya Association, sought the withdrawal of the case against Brahm Dutt. He said the police should be held responsible for the killing of Jaspal Singh and not Brahm Dutt, who had lodged a complaint.

Farmers alleged that commission agents used to harass them through their goons or policemen when they failed to repay loans. In most of the cases, the commission agents succeeded in getting prime agricultural land of farmers mortgaged in their name, they alleged.