Addict, who tried to kill sons, ends life

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, December 5

Gurbaksh Singh, a drug addict who had tried to strangle his two minor sons on the intervening night of December 1 and 2 at Mahauli Khurd village, committed suicide in the Malerkotla jail today. His children, Harkirat Singh (11) and Karnvir Singh (9), are battling for life in a private hospital in Ludhiana.

Gurbaksh hanged himself with a ‘parna’ (a piece of cloth used as headgear) from an iron pipe in the prison bathroom around 4 am. Another prisoner saw his body and informed the authorities.

“Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Harpreet Singh Simak inspected the jail after the incident. A judicial inquiry has started,” said Yogi Raj, DSP, Malerkotla.

After a post-mortem examination, the body was handed over to relatives.

The police said Gurbaksh had earlier tried to end his life after assaulting his sons. Later, cops had thwarted his attempt to commit suicide in Sandhaur police station.

Palwinder Singh, SHO, Sandhaur, said: “Both boys are critical. Two days ago, Karnvir showed signs of improvement, but later his condition deteriorated.”

Mahauli Khurd residents have been contributing money for their treatment.