Day after custodial death, 2 Amritsar cops booked

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 3

The police on Monday booked Head Constable Avtar Singh and Constable Navtej Singh on the charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the alleged custodial death of Congress worker Bittu Shah at the Gate Hakima police station here on Sunday. Earlier, they were suspended.

The case was registered following a daylong protest by residents and family members along with Congress leaders from the area. Even as the police had announced to form a special investigating team to probe his death, the agitators relented only after the police registered a case against the officials who had picked him up and brought to the police station for questioning.

His post-mortem was conducted by a three-member medical board. Later, the family members took the body outside the Division B police station and started a protest. Congress MLA Inderbir Singh Bolaria, party councillor Shailinder Singh Shelly and Mithu Madaan also joined the protest, which continued till late in the evening.

Sapna, wife of the deceased, said Bittu had gone to market for procuring milk, but he did not return. Later, her uncle told her that the police had arrested him. Later, the police informed them that he was there and his health was not well. She said they reached there and admitted him to a hospital, where he died. The family members alleged that Bittu was tortured by the police.

A police officer said there was a tip-off that Bittu was carrying narcotics. But no case was registered against him.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Jagmohan Singh said a case was registered against the two policemen who were also suspended with immediate effect. Further investigations were underway.