Terror accused in hospital, kin allege torture by police in custody

HOSHIARPUR: Jaspreet Singh Jassa, who was arrested along with three others by Hoshiarpur police for allegedly being part of a terror module two weeks back, has been admitted to the local civil hospital with his family and counsel accusing the police of torturing him.
He was shifted from Hoshiarpur jail to the hospital on August 19 following an order by the court of CJM Harsimarjit Singh on August 16.The court issued the order after 22-year-old Jassa's counsel H S Dhami filed an application that he had been tortured in police custody. The counsel also alleged that he suffered dislocation of disc and injury in his spinal cord and was not even able to lie down or walk properly.
The court had ordered that Jassa be produced before the Hoshiarpur senior medical officer (SMO) on August 18 who would constitute a board of doctors for his medical examination. SMO was directed to submit a report to the court on or before August 23. Meanwhile, Jassa's treatment and medical examination is going on in the hospital. Jaspreet was arrested on August 6. After remaining in police custody for nine days, he was sent to judicial custody on August 15 by a local court.
"He could not walk or recognize his sisters when they went to the jail to tie rakhi on August 18. He was not even speaking properly. I also went to the jail the same day to meet him and he did not recognize me either," said Jassa's uncle Ranbir Singh.
Dhami said when he went to see Jaspreet in the hospital on Monday morning, he appeared disoriented and was not speaking normally. "We are waiting for the medical report to be submitted in the court before deciding further course of action," he said.
When asked about the torture allegations, Hoshiarpur SSP K S Chahal texted back saying Jaspreet had undergone medical check-up thrice before he was produced in the court and there was no problem. "He was fit and fine when sent to jail," he added.
Jassa, a resident of Handowal Kalan village; Hardeep Singh Deepa of Jallowal near Chabbewal; and Kuldeep Singh of Mohallla Shekhan, Hoshiarpur, were arrested under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Arms Act. Police had claimed that three pistols and 28 cartridges were recovered from them along with T-shirts, religious and other books that were provocative in nature. Police had also arrested one Bikramjit Singh of Annaikot Kalan village near Batala. in Gurdaspur district with 40 rounds of .32 bore pistol, T-shirts and flags.
Police had claimed those arrested were conspiring with US resident Harjap Singh Japhi who was associated with US-based rights group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). SFJ had claimed that the arrested youths were working for Referendum 2020 and were falsely implicated in the terror case.