Zee Media Bureau
Phagwara: Two Indo-Pak `Sada-e-Sarhad` buses, connecting Delhi with Lahore, had to be diverted on Friday after a group of villagers blocked the national highway here to protest the death of an undertrial.
While one was Lahore-bound, the other was on its way to Delhi from Pakistan, police said.
The Lahore-Delhi international bus was diverted from village Mehtan to Phagwara bypass to NH-1 via Hargobind Nagar.
The Delhi-Lahore bus was also diverted from Hargobind Nagar to Phagwara bypass to NH-1 via Mehtan.
"Both buses kept their onward journey without any hindrance," police said.
Man dies in jail custody, family members block road
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.
With PTI Inputs
