Jails: Sandeep Shifted to Sangrur, Suba Singh Dies & 2 Clashes in Muktsar

On 17 Sep, seven days after the clash inside Patiala Central Jail—in which Sandeep Singh alias Sunny assaulted three policemen convicted for extrajudicial killings and drugs—Sandeep was transferred to Sangrur Jail. In this period, according to Sandeep's brother, Patiala jail authorities tied him up and beat his legs with sticks, leaving bruises, swelling on his face, and injury near his eye. After the assault on Sandeep, a medical examination was conducted only eight days after the incident despite court orders; the wounds remained untreated. The medical report has recorded 11 grave injuries. Sandeep’s lawyers Ghuman Brothers said Sandeep was not even allowed to meet lawyers or family until 15 Sep and said his assault by police was torture. Meanwhile, one of the policemen assaulted by Sandeep, former inspector Suba Singh who was on a ventilator in Government Rajindra Hospital has died. Suba’s family had already disowned him and no Sikh granthi (reciter) performed his funeral services. The case has once again brought into relief the years of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killing in Panjab between 1978-1995. Many are asking why were hardened criminals like Deputy Superintendent Police and Inspector Inderjeet Singh, the others assaulted along with Suba Singh, mixed with Sandeep who was an undertrial in the murder of Shiv Sena leader Sudhir Suri. The jail authorities are also responsible because jail inmates must be segregated and Sandeep had earlier complained about slandering by the policemen. Meanwhile, violence erupted for the second time in three days at the Muktsar district jail, leaving five inmates and two jail employees injured. The first clash, stemming from an old rivalry, occurred on 18 Sep. The second attack took place on 20 Sep, when one faction allegedly assaulted jail employee Mangal Dass Singh. A group led by Gurmeet Singh alias Meeta, and Baljinder Singh alias Gandhi, snatched keys from a jail employee, freed other inmates, locked the employee inside and attacked rival inmates in the de-addiction barrack using iron rods and a sharp weapon (earlier coverage).