Sangrur: An inmate lodged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) died under mysterious circumstances at Sangrur Central Jail on Friday night, triggering a major controversy.
The deceased, Gurvinder Singh, had been behind bars for the past seven years. His post-mortem was conducted late Saturday evening under the supervision of a judicial magistrate.
Following the incident, the Punjab government suspended the jail superintendent. Ramandeep Singh Bhangu has now been appointed as the new superintendent of Sangrur jail. Bhangu has previously served in Patiala, Nabha and Bathinda jails.
The deceased’s father, Jagir Singh, and a relative, Sukhbir Singh, alleged that Gurvinder Singh was a Khalistan supporter and had been booked under UAPA charges. His bail hearing was scheduled for August 4.
They further claimed that Gurvinder was frequently tortured in jail and had expressed fear for his life. “On Saturday, we received a call from the jail authorities informing us of his death. When we reached the jail, we were told he had died by suicide,” said Jagir Singh. The family has demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident.
Meanwhile, newly appointed superintendent Ramandeep Singh Bhangu said that strict security and discipline will be maintained in the jail, and efforts will be made to ensure that no inmate or staff member faces any inconvenience.
Police Station City Sangrur-1 has initiated legal proceedings in connection with the case.
