Amritsar, June 19
A girl, who was arrested on a charge of theft, allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan inside a cell at Gate Hakima police station here this morning. The deceased has been identified as 19-year-old Sarbjit Kaur, alias Shabbo. She was alleged to be a member of a gang of burglars.

Treating the incident as gross negligence on the part of police officials, Amritsar Police Commissioner Varinder Kumar has placed SHO Sukhwinder Singh and five other officials under suspension. A judicial inquiry has also been ordered, which will be conducted by Judicial Magistrate (Class I) Jagdeep Sood.

Ravinder Kaur, the younger sister of the deceased, alleged that her sister had died due to police torture. “She was being tormented by the police and she might have taken the step due it,” she alleged.

The Police Commissioner said prima facie, it was a case of negligence on the part of police officials. Further action would be taken against them on the basis of the inquiry report.

Shabbo and her mother Joginder Kaur, residents of Phatak Baba Jiwan Singh locality, were alleged to be active members of a gang of burglars comprising Avtaar Singh Tita of Bhanwan in Jandiala and Shankar Kumar of Jandiala.

The gang had allegedly committed a series of burglaries in Amritsar and the surrounding areas. While Avtaar Singh Tita and Shankar were apprehended at a naka in the city on June 6, Joginder and Shabbo were arrested on June 17 after their involvement was revealed by the two other accused. They were remanded in police custody for one day.

Stolen silver ornaments were also seized from the possession of Joginder and Shabbo during interrogation while some stolen gold ornaments were earlier seized from Tita and Shankar.

Shabbo was lodged at Gate Hakima police station along with her mother. The body of Shabbo was found hanging from the ceiling fan this morning by guards on the duty while her mother was said to have been out of the police station at the time of the incident for some “recovery”. Shabbo was taken to a hospital where she was declared brought dead.