Jammu, Mar 24: The Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) said the BSF jawan who died in its custody had two cardiac events that caused his death. His family has alleged that he had been brutally assaulted in the central agency’s custody.
The NCB said Border Security Force constable Jaswinder Singh was picked up from Jammu on March 3 for questioning in connection to a drug-related case and was arrested.
He died of cardiac arrest on Friday and follow-up procedures prescribed under guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is underway, the agency said.
In a statement, the NCB said that Singh, a resident of RS Pura, Jammu, was arrested by the Jammu unit of the agency 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 jawan was arrested in another case pertaining to the seizure of commercial quantity of tramadol and his custody kept getting extensions. He was in NCB custody till Match 23.
“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 for 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.
The BSF jawan died during treatment on Friday night in Amritsar with his family alleging that he had been brutally thrashed in custody.
Jaswinder Singh’s mother, Gurmeet Kaur, said her son had come home on leave and was picked up by the NCB.
The family was informed on March 20 that his health had deteriorated, said Kaur, adding that they were not informed why he was taken away.
The family claimed that the BSF jawan was brutally thrashed and held a protest in Jammu on Sunday, demanding justice. Jaswinder Singh’s wife sought the strictest action against “those responsible for his death”.
