Hoshiarpur, March 28
The death of a fruit orchard contractor in police custody today sparked a protest at Davida Ahrana village. Gurmail Chand, the victim, died in police custody at the Mehtiana police station last night. The residents of Davida Ahrana blocked the vehicular traffic on the Hoshiarpur-Phagwara road from 9 am to 2.30 pm.

The protesters demanded an action against the guilty police officials.

To end the confrontation, the police authorities intervened and ordered the officialsconcerned to register a case against some of the staff of the Mehtiana police station. Only after getting the assurance, they lifted the blockade and traffic was resumed thereafter.

Superintendent of Police (Detective) Jagmohan Singh said the Mehtiana police had registered an FIR under Section 302 of the IPC against ASI Balkar Singh, Madan Lal and his son Bindu, both of Davida Ahrana village in connection with the killing of fruit orchard contractor Gurmail of the same village. Mehtiana Station House Officer (SHO) Karnail Singh has been sent to the Police Lines, Hoshiarpur, the Superintendent of Police said.

Reports said Gurmail had to pay some money to Madan Lal who called him to the police station yesterday. Gurmail died in police custody under suspicious circumstances.

Gurmail’s body has been sent to the local civil hospital for post-mortem to ascertain the exact cause of his death.

Hoshiarpur, March 28
A resident of Bullowal died while his mother was seriously injured when the motorcycle they were riding skidded off the road this afternoon. Karnail Singh died on spot while his mother Gurmeet Kaur was admitted to a local civil hospital.

In another accident, a Nepali labourer Karan Kumar was crushed to death by a vehicle near old sabzi mandi here last night. The city police has registered a case in this connection.

In yet another incident, Kabal Singh, a resident of Amritsar, died on the spot when a motorcycle hit him near Bhangala.