Family alleges police torture, probe ordered

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, February 4

The family of Amrik Singh, an accused in the khair wood theft case who died at the PGI, Chandigarh, yesterday after being arrested, have levelled allegations of torture and bribery by the police.

An irate crowd of around 100 people, also comprising his family members from Gridan village near Pinjore and other associates from Punjab and Haryana, today marched towards Baddi in a bid to gherao the police but were stopped at the Baddi barrier. Policemen remained stationed outside the SP office at Baddi in the day as a precautionary measure. A delegation of 50 people later met the SP.

While a judicial probe has already begun, the SP has also directed the SDPO, Baddi, to inquire into the allegations levelled by the family members.

The victim’s father, Dharam Singh, in a written complaint, alleged that they received calls from two phone numbers asking them to pay Rs 15,000 in two installments for talking and meeting with their son who was in police custody from January 28 to 31. He also alleged that his son was in good health when arrested by the police on January 28, but had been beaten up in custody.

Amrik Singh (49) was remanded in judicial custody by a court on February 1 but was referred to the PGI the same day owing to poor health where he died yesterday.The post-mortem of the deceased was conducted at the PGI to ascertain the cause of death.

Baddi SP Rohit Malpani said strict action would be initiated against the policemen if the allegations were proved in the inquiry.

Barotiwala police had raided a forest site in Bhatolikalan village on the intervening night of January 9 and 10 from where large-scale khair wood had been pilfered. The miscreants had fled the site. Amrik Singh had been apprehended on January 28.