E/CN.4/1994/31 page 59 283. Harjinder Kaur, wife of Hardeep Singh of Latala village, was reportedly beaten on 11 August 1992 by members of the police who searched her house. Hardeep Singh, her husband, Nasib Kaur, her sister and Amarjeet Singh, her brother-in-law, were also reported to have been severely beaten before being taken away to Sudhar police station. As a result of the injuries sustained Harjinder Kaur died that evening in Kundan Lal hospital. 284. On 3 December 1993 the Government replied that on receipt of definite information that Hardeep Singh was harbouring hardcore terrorists, his house had been raided and a case registered. Regarding the death of Harjinder Kaur, it was reiterated by the State government that she was hit by a buffalo in her own compound. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. As it was a case of unnatural death, inquest proceedings under section 174 of the Criminal Penal Code were conducted. A statement made by the elders of Village Latala categorically stated that Harjinder Kaur died due to injuries received from a buffalo in her house. The post-mortem report conducted by a team of doctors of the Ludhiana civil hospital concluded that death was due to haemorrhage and shock as a result of extensive injuries caused by the buffalo. 285. Bhai Gurdev Sikh, a Sikh religious preacher, was arrested on 25 December 1992 by members of the Jagraon police. He died several days later, reportedly as a result of torture. 286. Bishambar, was arrested on 6 October 1992 at Nikhri village, state of Haryana, by members of the police who allegedly whipped him with a strap made from tyre rubber, beat him and, while he was unconscious, castrated him. 287. Vikal Kumar Adhana, an assistant in the Ministry of Finance from Tigaon, Faridabad, Haryana, was arrested from the Rajdeep Hotel in the afternoon of 23 February 1993 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on suspicion of impersonation and demanding a bribe. He was first interrogated in the CBI office and later in the evening was taken to the Lodhi Colony police station. The police apparently made no entry in the daily diary of Vikal Kumar’s arrest. He was found dead in the lock-up the following morning. Although, the police claimed that he hanged himself, the "death report" listed several injuries on his body indicative of torture. Urgent appeals 288. The Special Rapporteur transmitted to the Government four urgent appeals on behalf of the following persons, regarding whom fears were expressed that they might be subjected to torture while in detention. The date on which the appeals were sent is mentioned in brackets at the end of the corresponding summary. 289. Mohinder Singh Grewal, a lawyer, Secretary-General of the International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO) in Ludhiana, Punjab, was reportedly called for interrogation on 23 and 24 March 1993 at the premises of the Criminal Investigation Agency in Ludhiana. A senior officer of the Punjab police allegedly subjected Mr. Grewal to ill-treatment and threatened him with severe torture or murder if he continued making reports on alleged human rights abuses by the police. (5 April 1993)