Chandigarh, August 29
Controversial Nihang chief Ajit Singh Poohla, who was allegedly burnt alive in the high-security Amritsar Central Jail by two inmates yesterday, succumbed to his injuries at the PGI this morning. Poohla, who was brought here for treatment with over 70 per cent burn injuries late last night, reportedly died at 8 am. His body has been kept at the PGI mortuary and could not be handed over to his relatives since there was confusion about where the post-mortem was to be conducted.
According to PGI sources, being a medico-legal case the police was advised to call the SDM Amritsar to complete the formalities for the post-mortem. However, it is learnt the Chandigarh police was keen that the post-mortem be conducted at Amritsar to avoid any
backlash here. Till the filing of the report, it was not clear where the post-mortem would ultimately be conducted.
Poohla’s nephew, Dimpy, who was at the mortuary, said the last rites would be conducted at their native village, Baba Bakala, in Amritsar tomorrow. Contrary to expectations that many of Poohla’s followers would reach here, things remained quiet and the only high-profile
visitor at the mortuary was Punjab’s IT minister, Adesh Pratap Kairon.
Dimpy said his uncle had apprehended a threat to his life and had requested for adequate security in the prison but the same had not been given. He blamed the jail authorities for Poohla’s death and demanded an inquiry into it. He said the only surviving members of Poohla’s immediate family are his mother, Surinder Kaur, and sister.
Meanwhile, Poohla’s bail application, that was to come up for hearing at the High Court today became
infructuous.
