M A I N   N E W S

NRI’s custodial death sparks protest in jail
Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, August 24
The custodial death of a US-based NRI at an Amritsar hospital following brain haemorrhage this morning sparked protests in the Gurdaspur Central Jail. The NRI was lodged in the jail in a TADA case.

Sources said a majority of the 1,450 inmates resorted to hunger strike following the authorities’ delay in shifting the NRI to a hospital after he complained of chest pain.

The jail officials have written to the Deputy Commissioner, in his capacity as the District Magistrate, to conduct an inquiry into the sequence of events leading to the NRI’s death.

NRI Prabhjot Singh’s counsel Karanjit Singh said a few days ago, Prabhjot complained of pain in the chest and arm following which he moved an application on August 19 in the court of the District and Sessions Judge saying that his client was not being given proper treatment by jail officials. For the next four days, during which Prabhjot’s condition deteriorated, the jail authorities and the Batala police continued to fight over jurisdiction, said sources.

Jail Superintendent DK Sidhu said: “Officials have to follow the jail manual. After receiving orders of the sessions judge on August 19, we urged the Batala police to provide security to Prabhjot as his residence falls under their jurisdiction. The inmate was shifted to the Gurdaspur Civil Hospital on August 22 after the Batala police provided security to him.”

The Jail Superintendent said doctors at the Civil Hospital referred Prabhjot to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar. His condition was not serious when he left the jail, he claimed. Batala SSP Manminder Singh denied the Jail Superintendent’s statement and said: “We have posted five guards at the Gurdaspur jail to escort inmates.”

On August 23, Prabhjot’s counsel again moved an application before acting sessions judge Baljinder Kaur Sidhu to shift his client to Fortis Hospital, Amritsar.

Prabhjot was shifted to Fortis Hospital where he died this morning.

DC to conduct inquiry

• Inmates resort to hunger strike, say jail authorities failed to provide timely treatment to the NRI
• His counsel, kin claim jail authorities did not follow Gurdaspur District and Session Judge’s orders to shift him to a hospital
• Jail authorities blame the Batala police for not providing security to the inmate on time
• The Batala SSP denies jail officials’ claims
• Jail officials write to the Deputy Commissioner to conduct inquiry.