A 28-year-old man arrested for illegally possession of drug died in custody of the Phagwara sub-jail here, following which his family members and relatives blocked the National Highway-1 claiming foul play, prompting the authorities to order a probe into the matter.
Gurprees Singh alias Gopi (28) died at the sub-jail last night. Police claimed that after his sugar level suddenly fell, he was rushed to the government hospital where he died. Gopi, a resident of Mahlan village near Goraya of the district was arrested last month.
Alleging that he was falsely implicated in the case and later drugged to death, Gopi's family members and villagers blocked traffic for nearly two-and-a-half hours on the New Delhi-Attari National Highway-1 near civil hospital and then at the Sugar Mill crossing here.
They demanded action against the sub-jail staff members for their alleged complicity in the death and doctors. Balwinder Kaur, Gopi's mother, alleged that police had demanded money from him.
They also staged a dharna at the hospital, declaring they won't allow post-mortem on the body till their demands were met. Doctors and para-medical staff also stopped work and held a parallel dharna, demanding action against those who had created ruckus at the hospital, manhandled duty doctor Kuldip Kumar, ransacked room and vandalised furniture and stationary last night.
Sub-divisional Medical Officer Dr Manohar Lal, however, said Gopi was brought to the hospital around 8:30 PM yesterday in a comatose state. Despite best efforts by doctors he died soon after.
The jail authorities also rubbished all the allegations.
A judicial probe was ordered into the incident and Sub-Judicial Magistrate (SJM) Rupinder Singh today began probe into it. Singh recorded statements of the bereaved family, including Gopi's mother and a sister.
