Probe ordered into elderly man's death during Punjab anti-drugs raid

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death of an elderly man during an anti-drugs police raid in the state's Lambi, a government spokesman said.

Gurdev Singh, who was in his 70s, died on Tuesday during a raid by police for his alleged involvement in drugs. The Chief Minister has also announced ex-gratia grant of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of Gurdev Singh, who belonged to village Tarmala in Muktsar, an official spokesperson said here.

The probe has been ordered to ascertain the cause and circumstances that led to the death, and to fix responsibility, the spokesman said. Reiterating his promise to free the state from the drugs menace, as promised in the Congress election manifesto, Amarinder Singh directed police and other agencies engaged in the anti-drugs campaign to exercise restraint.

"He exhorted the police and other officials not to cause any sort of inconvenience or undue harassment to anyone during the ongoing search operations for drug seizures across the state," the spokesman added.

During Punjab's election campaign for assembly polls, Amarinder Singh had publicly vowed to eradicate drugs usage in Punjab within four weeks of coming to power.

The Congress government assumed office on March 16.

--IANS

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