An Indian prisoner, lodged in Lahore's Kot Lakpat Jail, died in custody last week. The Indian High Commission (IHC), which was informed of his death, has passed on the information to the Home Ministry to make arrangements as per the wishes of his family.
Amid reports that Chambail Singh, son of Arsal Singh and native of Pragwal in Jammu & Kashmir, had been beaten to death by prison staff, IHC officials maintained that the Pakistani authorities had only informed them about his death. The cause of death was not detailed in the communication received by the IHC.
However, media reports suggested that he had been beaten up by prison staff before his death. Apparently, he was assaulted by them for washing clothes at a tap. ``Details of the assault were provided to the media by an NGO worker who was also apparently in custody in Kot Lakpat Jail at the time of the incident.
Chambail Singh had been serving time in Kot Lakpat Jail on charges of espionage. His body has been placed in the mortuary of a government hospital in Lahore.
