In a significant ruling, the additional sessions judge Mahesh Grover in Bathinda, Punjab, has ordered that five police officers be tried for murder and other offenses in connection with the custodial death of Bhinder Singh. Singh, a resident of Lakhi Jungle village, reportedly died in October 2024 while evading arrest by a police team investigating illegal weapon possession. The police initially claimed he drowned in a lake, but a judicial inquiry revealed he was subjected to waterboarding, a form of torture that simulates drowning. This conclusion was drawn from circumstantial evidence, digital forensics, and medical statements, contradicting the police narrative. The accused officers, including inspector Navpreet Singh and head constable Rajwinder Singh, are facing serious charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Indian Penal Code). The trial is scheduled to commence on May 11, 2025.