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Crime-Justice

Main accused who imported heroin in salt bags from Pak died in jail, Punjab CM orders probe

July 21, 2019 09:37 PM

AMRITSAR: Gurpinder Singh, the main accused in smuggling of 532 kg of heroin in salt bags from Pakistan today died in the Amritsar central jail under suspicious circumstances. His death has closed the case of biggest ever heroin smuggling episode. The death of main accused seems to be a murder by drug mafia.
 
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh later in the day ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death, in judicial custody, of the main accused in the recently busted Amritsar drugs case.

The Chief Minister has asked the Additional District Magistrate, Himanshu Aggarwal, to conduct a detailed probe into the death of Gurpinder Singh in hospital, according to an official spokesperson.  The ADM has been asked to ascertain all facts and circumstances of the unfortunate death of the undertrial.

The magisterial enquiry will be in addition to the Post Mortem, which will be conducted by a high-level Board of Doctors, and the Judicial proceedings under the CrPC to be conducted by a Judicial Magistrate.

Giving details, the spokesperson said the accused was admitted in Jail Hospital, Central Jail, Amritsar on July 18. The Jail Medical Officer referred him on Sunday, due to his serious health condition, to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar for treatment. He was declared brought dead at the hospital.

Captain Amarinder has directed the ADM to undertake a thorough investigation into the matter and identify the lapses that led to the death of the undertrial, Gurpinder, s/o Jagjit Singh R/o H. no. 277, Gali no. 8, Hussainpura, Amritsar, PS Ram Bagh, Amritsar.

It may be recalled that Gurpinder was lodged in Central Jail, Amritsar, in connection with Custom case dated 29-06-19 u/s 135 of Custom Act. He was arrested by the Customs Department and was sent to judicial custody.

A total of 532 Kg Heroin and 52 Kgs of suspected mixed Narcotics was recovered from the accused and FIR No. 76 was registered at PS Rajasansi u/s 21, 29, 61, 85 NDPS Act 379, 411, 473 and FIR No.115/2019 of PS Gharinda, Amritsar (Rural) u/s 411, 414 IPC, 25 Arms Act, 489A, 489B, 489C, Sec.3, Sec 5, Sec 9 Offical Secret Act 1923, Sec.21, 22, 29 NDPS Act, 1985, Sec 3 Passport Act 1920, Sec 14 Foreigners Act, 1946.
As Gurpinder Singh was a chronic diabetes patient with deteriorating health condition, he was admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar, for treatment on 02.07.2019 and was discharged from the hospital on 06.07.2019. The next day, he was taken into police custody by Rajasansi Police, till 11.07.2019.

On 12.07.2019, the Gharinda Police took him into Police Custody and he was thereafter, on 18.07.2019, sent back to Judicial Custody after a thorough medical examination at JBMM Civil Hospital, Amritsar.

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