BATHINDA, May 28 — A case has been registered against four personnel from the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA-2) unit of Bathinda police over the alleged custodial death of 28-year-old Narinderdeep Singh, whose body was found under suspicious circumstances on May 23.
Singh, a resident of Omaxe City in Goniana Mandi and an employee at the Future Care Institute on Ajit Road, was last seen driving to work. Later that day, his family was informed that he had died in a road accident — a version they immediately disputed upon seeing visible injuries suggesting brutal physical abuse.
Narinderdeep’s father, Ranjit Singh, filed a complaint accusing the CIA-2 officers, including Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Avtar Singh Tari, of detaining his son and subjecting him to third-degree torture, which he claimed directly led to his death.
Police initially attributed the death to a drug overdose, then changed the explanation to a road accident. These conflicting accounts fueled public suspicion, especially after a video shared by Gagandeep Singh — one of the last people to see Narinderdeep alive — appeared to contradict the official story.
An FIR was filed on May 24 at Canal Colony police station, naming ASI Avtar Singh Tari and two civilians, Gagandeep Singh and Happy Luthra. By May 26, three additional CIA-2 officials — Head Constable Harvinder Singh, Senior Constable Lakhwinder Singh, and Constable Gurpal Singh — were also booked in the case.
“The FIR against the four CIA-2 officials and the two friends of the deceased has been registered on the basis of the family’s allegations,” said Bathinda Senior Superintendent of Police Amneet Kondal. “The actual cause of death will be confirmed through the post-mortem report.”
The case has intensified scrutiny on custodial practices and prompted demands for a transparent investigation into the conduct of law enforcement officers involved.
