Amritsar, March 22: A Punjab-based rights organization has formally demanded a judicial investigation into what they termed the “custodial torture” of a BSF jawan under the supervision of the Narcotics Control Bureau. The Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO) issued the demand following the death of Jaswinder Singh, citing an alleged failure by authorities to follow established legal protocols during his detention.
The group stated that Singh’s family remained unaware of the charges against him following his arrest in Jammu. The PHRO affirmed that the transfer of the soldier to Amritsar without proper transparency suggests a breach of standard operating procedures. The organization’s principal investigator, Sarabjit Singh Verka, asserted that the treatment of the soldier represents a significant lapse in human rights protections.
“Such behavior towards a soldier serving the nation is unacceptable in any civilized society,” Verka affirmed.
The NGO has outlined several requirements for a transparent investigation, including the involvement of a High Court judge and a specialized medical panel for the post-mortem. They declared that the results of the autopsy should determine whether criminal charges, including murder, are brought against the custodial officers.
In addition to legal action, the PHRO maintained that the victim’s family deserves adequate compensation and that the jawan’s body should be transported to his native village with full honors. The group stated that they are prepared to seek intervention from the Punjab Human Rights Commission to ensure a thorough review of the NCB’s actions.
The organization affirmed that it would continue to monitor the case closely, warning that a lack of concrete steps from the government would prompt them to take the issue to international forums.
