Jammu, March 24 The family of a BSF soldier who recently died in NCB custody on Tuesday demanded a CBI investigation into the incident, while the agency said his death was caused by a cardiac event.
BSF constable Jaswinder Singh was picked up from Jammu on March 3 for questioning in a drug-related case and died at an Amritsar hospital on March 20, with his family alleging that he had been brutally assaulted in custody, resulting in his death.
In a statement, the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) said Jaswinder, a resident of RS Pura, Jammu, was arrested by the Jammu unit of the agency on March 3 in connection with his alleged role in a case pertaining to the seizure of a commercial quantity of heroin.
"His brother, Pupinder Singh, had already been arrested in the same case. Pupinder is a habitual offender, with six NDPS cases registered against him in Punjab and J&K," it said.
On March 12, the NCB said the BSF soldier was arrested in another case pertaining to the seizure of a commercial quantity of tramadol, and his custody kept getting extensions.
"Jaswinder Singh was arrested on the basis of evidence derived from technical analysis, which revealed that he was in contact with smugglers based in Pakistan, Punjab, and Jammu. Based on investigation, he was taken to Amritsar on the evening of March 19 for further investigation. On March 19, at Amritsar, he developed chest pain and was immediately admitted to Pulse Hospital, Amritsar.
"He suffered two cardiac events and expired on the morning of March 20 at Pulse Hospital, Amritsar," the NCB said.
In compliance with the protocol prescribed by the NHRC and the Supreme Court, the NCB, Amritsar, has initiated and requested inquest proceedings by the judicial magistrate, magisterial inquiry by the executive magistrate, post-mortem examination and intimation to NHRC through the local police.
"The reports of the inquiry and the post-mortem are awaited. All prescribed procedures under NHRC guidelines are being duly followed," the NCB said.
Countering the NCB at a press conference here on Tuesday, the family, accompanied by senior Congress leader Taranjit Singh Tony and prominent community leaders, including RTI activist Balvinder Singh, pushed for an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the case.
"He (Singh) was a nationalist serving the country in BSF uniform, but the way he was taken from us warrants an impartial CBI probe. We will not rest until justice is delivered," Tony said, adding that the family will meet Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the coming days.
Singh’s mother, Gurmeet Kaur, broke down while claiming that her 33-year-old son was innocent and that those responsible for his death should be held accountable.
“I appeal with folded hands to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the (Union) home minister, the chief minister and the lieutenant governor to hand over the case to the CBI. He was innocent and was brutally killed. We want justice," Singh's wife said.
Tony also questioned the NCB's allegations against Jaswinder's brother, Pupinder.