Cable operator's suicide: Cong demands judicial inquiry

Punjab Congress today demanded a time-bound judicial inquiry into the alleged suicide of Amritsar based cable operator last month.
In a letter written to Justice S J Vazifdar, Acting Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, state Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa stated, "I am constrained to bring to your urgent notice the matter concerning a cable operator who was compelled to commit suicide by consuming pesticide before senior judges and other high-ranking dignitaries at a function organised by the telecom disputes appellate tribunal at Amritsar."
Bajwa alleged that the deceased Jaswinder Singh Jassi took the extreme step because of indifferent attitude of the Punjab government towards his issues.

"In addition to this, he (Jassi) was being subjected to harassment and intimidation by the powerful cable TV lobby, which is thriving because of the direct interest of the ruling family in the state of Punjab," he alleged.
Any independent operator wanting to provide cable TV services was harassed and suppressed by the cartel, he claimed.
"I would in the interest of justice, humbly urge that a time bound judicial inquiry is ordered, which should be conducted by a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to inquire into the various aspects of this case," he demanded.

Bajwa also described a probe by Punjab police in this incident as an eye wash, claiming that it was aimed to shield its political masters who have financial interest in cable TV business in the state.

Victim Jaswinder Singh Jassi, a local cable operator had consumed some poisonous substance at a hotel room on March 28 in the presence of Chairman and a member of Telecom Dispute settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) and other judges following which he was hospitalised.
Jassi, who was a prime witness in the 2003 Amritsar sex racket case, died on March 30 in the hospital.
Police had booked and arrested three persons including Managing Director of a cable network, Sarabjit Singh Raju, Pritpal Singh Lalli and Gurinder Singh Babbi, under section 306 (abatement of suicide) of IPC.