AMRITSAR | May 4, 2026 — The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has officially suspended two senior officials, including an Army officer on deputation, following the custodial death of BSF Constable Jaswinder Singh. The move comes as a 16-page post-mortem report surfaced, directly contradicting the agency’s initial claim of a “cardiac event” by documenting dozens of physical injuries.
Official Suspensions and Inquiry Shift
Following intense pressure from human rights advocates and the victim’s family, the NCB confirmed the suspension of Assistant Director Amit Kumar (a Major in the Indian Army serving on deputation) and Investigating Officer Akash Rai.
To ensure an impartial investigation, the internal inquiry has been transferred from the Amritsar/Jammu jurisdiction to the NCB’s Delhi headquarters. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also taken cognizance of the case, demanding a detailed report from the agency.
The Post-Mortem: 34 Signs of Torture
While the NCB originally stated that Singh passed away on March 20 after suffering two heart attacks during interrogation, the medical report from the Civil Hospital in Amritsar tells a different story. The autopsy identified 34 distinct injuries across Singh’s body, including:
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Blunt Force Trauma: Severe bruising from head to toe.
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Internal Hemorrhage: A massive bruise between the scalp and the skull.
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Organ Damage: Internal bruising on the lungs and kidneys.
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Timeline of Abuse: Forensic experts noted that 25 injuries were inflicted 2–4 days before death, while nine were caused 18–24 hours before he passed away—a period during which he was in NCB custody.
Background: A Disputed Detention
Jaswinder Singh, a 35-year-old BSF constable posted in Tripura, was home on leave in Jammu when he was picked up by the NCB on March 3.
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The Family’s Claim: His mother, Gurmeet Kaur, alleges the family was kept in the dark for over two weeks, only receiving a call on March 20 informing them of his death. They allege he was held in illegal custody and tortured.
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The NCB’s Defence: The agency maintains Singh was detained in connection with a cross-border drug trafficking network involving virtual numbers linked to Pakistan. They claim his health deteriorated while being transported to the Patti area of Tarn Taran for a “recovery operation.”
Legal Intervention
The case reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court via a petition filed by Sarabjit Singh Verka of the Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO). Justice Suraj Prakash has issued a notice to the NCB Delhi, seeking a formal response regarding the allegations of custodial torture and illegal detention.
“The post-mortem report has proved that my husband was tortured to death. Thirty-four injuries are not a small matter,” stated Lovjeet Kaur, the victim’s wife, while demanding the registration of a murder case against the involved officials.
Timeline of Events
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March 3: Singh picked up by NCB Jammu while on leave.
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March 19: Singh arrives in Amritsar in NCB custody.
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March 20: Singh pronounced dead at a private hospital at 4:00 AM.
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April 24: Autopsy report detailing 34 injuries is made public.
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May 3: Official confirmation of suspensions for Major Amit Kumar and Akash Rai.
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