SRINAGAR: A Border Security Force (BSF) constable from Jammu and Kashmir died in the custody of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Punjab’s Amritsar district, triggering protests by family members and locals in Jammu’s RS Pura area.
The deceased has been identified as Jaswinder Singh, a BSF jawan posted in Jammu. According to police sources, Singh was arrested on March 3 at his residence while he was on leave in connection with a drugs case and was subsequently taken to Amritsar by the NCB for questioning.
Officials said that during interrogation, Singh’s health condition deteriorated, following which he was shifted to a hospital in Amritsar, where he died during treatment on Friday night. A postmortem examination was conducted at the Civil Hospital in Amritsar on Saturday, and the final report is awaited. No official statement has been issued so far regarding the circumstances leading to his death.
Singh’s family, however, alleged that he was subjected to torture in custody. His mother, Gurmeet Kaur, claimed that her son was “brutally assaulted” during interrogation. “My son had come home on leave but was taken away for investigation. On March 20, we were informed that he had died and were asked to collect his body,” she said, demanding a fair and impartial probe.
Following the death, family members and local residents staged a protest in the Diwangarh area of RS Pura. Protesters blocked the main road, raised slogans against the authorities, and alleged that Singh had been falsely implicated in the case.
Superintendent of Police Ajay Sharma visited Daljeet Chowk, where the protest was underway, and attempted to pacify the demonstrators. The protest continued for nearly four hours and concluded around 3 pm after authorities assured the family that an investigation would be conducted.
The family has warned of intensifying protests if justice is not delivered.
