Amritsar, May 4: A major disciplinary shake-up has occurred within the Narcotics Control Bureau as an Army Major on deputation has been suspended over allegations of custodial death in Amritsar. Major Amit Kumar is now the second officer to face suspension in the wake of BSF Constable Jaswinder Singh’s death, which took place over a month ago. This development follows the suspension of investigating officer Akash Rai, as pressure mounts for a transparent probe into the circumstances of the constable’s passing.
The investigation was triggered by a post-mortem examination that found numerous injuries on the deceased, contradicting initial claims by the bureau. NCB officials had previously stated that the constable suffered a fatal cardiac episode while in transit. However, Jaswinder’s family maintained that he was a victim of excessive force, noting that he was on leave from his posting in Tripura when he was intercepted by the agency.
“All injuries were ante-mortem,” the post-mortem report stated, though officials are still awaiting chemical and histopathology findings to declare a definitive cause of death. The NCB maintained that the arrest was lawful and conducted under standard protocols based on investigative leads. Despite these assertions, the suspension of a senior Assistant Director suggests a widening internal inquiry into the agency’s conduct during the interrogation and transport of the suspect.
The legal battle has moved to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, where the victim’s wife and mother are seeking an independent inquiry. They asserted that a local FIR must be registered against the bureau’s staff to ensure accountability. The family affirmed that they will continue to seek justice for Jaswinder, who was originally picked up near Miran Sahib Chowk while caring for his mother, as they believe the “mysterious death” in custody was a result of physical abuse by the investigators.
