Family members of deceased teacher accuse police & CIA staff of torturing and killing him
The death of Narinderdeep Singh, a 28-year-old resident of Omaxe City in Goniana Mandi, in the custody of the Bathinda police’s Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) on May 23, 2025, has sparked significant controversy. Narinderdeep, who worked at Future Care Institute in Bathinda, was reportedly picked up by CIA staff-2 officers, including ASI Avtar Singh Tari.
His father, Ranjit Singh, alleged that Narinderdeep was subjected to severe physical torture, leading to his death. Initially, police claimed he died due to a drug overdose, later changing their narrative to a road accident, which raised suspicions due to visible signs of torture on his body and inconsistencies in the police account. A video shared by an acquaintance, Gagandeep Singh, further contradicted the official version.
An FIR was filed on May 24 at Canal Colony police station against ASI Avtar Singh Tari, Gagandeep Singh, and Happy Luthra. Two days later, three more CIA-2 officials—Head Constable Harvinder Singh, Senior Constable Lakhwinder Singh, and Constable Gurpal Singh—were named in the case. Public outrage has been significant, with posts on Social Media reflecting grief and demands for justice, including calls from political figures like Harsimrat Badal and Pargat Singh for a thorough probe to punish those responsible. They described the incident as indicative of a broader issue of police overreach in Punjab.
A meeting was held in Goniana Mandi to address the incident, noting the proximity of Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s visit to Bathinda, just 7 km from Narinderdeep’s residence, highlighting public frustration with the government’s response.
The case remains under investigation, with public and political pressure for transparency and accountability.
The death of Narinderdeep Singh, a 28-year-old teacher from Omaxe City, Goniana Mandi, in the custody of the Bathinda police’s Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) on May 23, 2025, has sparked widespread controversy and public outrage in Punjab. Below is a detailed account of the incident, based on available information:
Background
Victim: Narinderdeep Singh, employed at Future Care Institute on Ajit Road, Bathinda, was reportedly picked up by the CIA-2 team on suspicion of drug-related activities. He was last seen leaving for work in his car.
Incident Date: May 23, 2025.
Location: Bathinda, Punjab, under the jurisdiction of the CIA-2 staff.
Circumstances of DeathInitial Police Claims: The Bathinda police initially stated that Narinderdeep died due to a drug overdose. Later, they revised their statement, claiming his death resulted from a road accident.
Family Allegations: Narinderdeep’s father, Ranjit Singh, alleged that his son was subjected to severe physical torture, including third-degree methods and electric shocks, while in custody. The family rejected the police’s overdose and accident claims, pointing to visible signs of torture on Narinderdeep’s body.
Contradictory Evidence: A video shared by Gagandeep Singh, an acquaintance who was with Narinderdeep when they were picked up by the CIA, claimed that both were tortured, and Narinderdeep succumbed to the injuries. This video contradicted the police’s narrative, intensifying suspicions of foul play.
Legal Actions
FIR Filing: On May 24, 2025, an FIR was registered at Canal Colony police station against: ASI Avtar Singh Tari (CIA-2 officer).Gagandeep Singh and Happy Luthra (Narinderdeep’s acquaintances).
On May 26, three additional CIA-2 officials were named: Head Constable Harvinder Singh, Senior Constable Lakhwinder Singh, and Constable Gurpal Singh.
Charges: The FIR was based on allegations of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, following the family’s claims and Gagandeep’s video.
Police Response: Bathinda SSP Amneet Kondal stated that the FIR was filed based on the family’s allegations, and the cause of death would be clarified by the post-mortem report. The accused officers were reported to be absconding as of late May 2025.
Public and Political Reaction
Public Outrage: The incident triggered significant public unrest, with a meeting held in Goniana Mandi to address the issue. The timing of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s visit to Bathinda, just 7 km from Narinderdeep’s residence, amplified public frustration over the lack of immediate governmental response.
Political Statements: Harsimrat Badal (Shiromani Akali Dal): Expressed condolences and urged the government for a thorough probe to ensure justice for Narinderdeep’s family.
Pargat Singh (Congress leader): Described the incident as indicative of Punjab drifting toward a “police state” and demanded a fair investigation to punish the guilty.
Bikram Singh Majithia: Condemned the incident as an example of “shameless police brutality” and highlighted the use of third-degree torture.
Social Media Sentiment: Posts on Social Media reflected widespread grief and anger, with users calling for accountability and criticizing the Punjab police’s actions.
Investigation Status
Ongoing Probe: As of May 28, 2025, the investigation was ongoing, with the Bathinda police requesting verification from judicial officers and the Punjab State Human Rights Commission. The post-mortem report was awaited to determine the exact cause of death.
Context of Custodial Deaths in Bathinda: This incident follows another custodial death case in Bathinda involving Bhinder Singh in October 2024, where five CIA-1 officers were indicted for torture and murder. That case, investigated by Judicial Magistrate Kuldeep Singh, revealed attempts to cover up the death with a fabricated story, raising concerns about systemic issues within the Bathinda CIA.
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Broader Implications
Public Trust in Police: The case has fueled accusations of police overreach and brutality in Punjab, with political leaders and citizens highlighting a pattern of custodial violence.
Calls for Reform: The incident, combined with similar cases, has intensified demands for accountability and reforms within the Punjab police to prevent custodial deaths and ensure transparent investigations.