HC seeks record on custodial death

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday summoned the entire record pertaining to alleged custodial death of one Kulwant Singh inside Amritsar Jail in 2010. The directions were passed during the resumed hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL),filed by Lawyers for Human Rights International through its Chairman,Advocate Navkiran Singh.

While the Punjab Police in its report on Tuesday claimed that Kulwant Singh had committed suicide,the High Court summoned the entire record,including the dying declaration statement recorded by an Amritsar Magistrate. In his declaration,Kulwant Singh had reportedly told a Magistrate that he did not know who had set him on fire. The Punjab Police also informed the High Court that departmental proceedings were initiated against two jail wardens,holding them prima facie guilty of “casualness” in the case.