Haryana CM assures justice in the case of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar’s death amid allegations of discrimination.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini addressed the tragic death of Indian Police Service officer Y Puran Kumar, who was found dead at his residence in Chandigarh’s Sector 11 earlier this week. The police have stated that Kumar died by suicide. In a note discovered at the scene, he named 11 serving and retired officers, including Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur and Rohtak Superintendent of Police Narendra Bijarniya, accusing them of caste-based discrimination.
During an event in Panchkula, CM Saini expressed his commitment to ensuring justice for Kumar’s family. He emphasized that the government would conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and assured that strict action would be taken against anyone found guilty, regardless of their influence. Saini also urged opposition leaders to refrain from politicizing the incident.
Kumar’s wife has brought attention to the contents of her husband’s note, indicating that it explicitly named individuals responsible for creating an environment of harassment, humiliation, and mental torture that led to this tragic outcome. In response to these allegations, Chandigarh Police registered a first information report on Friday, citing charges of abetment to suicide and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act against those named in Kumar’s note.
In light of the ongoing investigation, a six-member Special Investigation Team has been formed to delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding Kumar’s death. Additionally, the Haryana government has taken immediate action by replacing Bijarniya as Rohtak’s superintendent of police, appointing Surinder Singh Bhoria in his place.
Kumar’s history within the police force indicates a pattern of challenging caste discrimination. In 2008, as a Scheduled Caste officer, he filed a complaint with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, alleging harassment by a senior official. Furthermore, during the previous year’s Lok Sabha elections, he approached the Election Commission, raising concerns about bias against Dalit officers by the chief electoral officer.
The situation has drawn significant attention, as the implications of caste-based discrimination within the police force and broader society continue to be a pressing issue. The assurance of a thorough investigation by the state government highlights the seriousness with which this matter is being treated and the commitment to address such allegations decisively.
