Chandigarh, Oct 9 (PTI) - Haryana Police officer Y Puran Kumar's tragic death has brought to light grave allegations of harassment within the police force. A note left behind by Kumar, found at his Chandigarh residence, accuses "senior officers" of subjecting him to "mental harassment" and humiliation over several years, as revealed by sources.
The 52-year-old, a 2001-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, was discovered with a gunshot wound in his Sector 11 house's basement. Kumar, who had a reputation for advocating for officers' rights and seniority, was recently assigned as the Inspector General at the Police Training Centre (PTC) in Rohtak's Sunaria.
His wife, Amneet P Kumar, also a bureaucrat, rushed to Chandigarh from Japan. She was part of a Haryana government delegation there. In her police complaint, she claimed that her husband faced "systematic persecution" from high-ranking officials, leading to his death. She called for an FIR against Haryana's DGP, Shatrujeet Kapur, and another senior IPS officer under Section 108 BNS, 2023, which pertains to abetment of suicide, as well as the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The police attempted to contact the officers for their comments but were unsuccessful. The Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) team and Chandigarh police have seized physical and electronic evidence, including the alleged weapon Puran Kumar used. A "will" and a "final note" were also recovered from the scene.
According to sources, Kumar left behind an eight-page typed and signed 'final note.' The note titled "Continued blatant caste-based discrimination, targeted mental harassment, public humiliation and atrocities by concerned senior officers of Haryana since August 2020 which is now unbearable," detailed alleged caste-based discrimination, harassment, and public humiliation faced by Kumar. He accused some officers of generating "mischievous anonymous and pseudo-anonymous" complaints against him to damage his reputation and publicly humiliate him.
Kumar, belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, named some officers who allegedly misused their authority, leading him to take this drastic step. Despite his complaints, no investigations were conducted against the accused officers.
The note highlighted an incident where a bureaucrat failed to sanction Kumar's earned leave on time, preventing him from visiting his father before his passing. Kumar stated that he raised these issues with various officers, and they are documented.
Kumar's note further described incidents of "discriminatory, caste-based mental harassment and humiliation in public view," and concluded by stating that he could no longer endure the "continued and concerted conspiracy" against him.
He also noted that complaints against certain officers went unaddressed, further exemplifying the prejudicial treatment he suffered. Kumar specifically mentioned remarks made by a top-ranking IPS officer in his annual performance appraisal report, describing them as "factually incorrect, purely imaginary, unsubstantiated, loaded with personal prejudice and in violation of principles of natural justice." He sought intervention from a senior bureaucrat, which proved futile.
The note mentions additional rules imposed on him when allotting official accommodation in Panchkula and described another incident in November 2023, when his official vehicle was revoked.
Varun Chaudhary, Congress MP from Ambala, expressed shock and sorrow over the suicide, labeling it "deeply tragic and shocking." He has called for a judicial inquiry to ensure a fair investigation.
The Chandigarh police are continuing their investigation, having analyzed "some CCTV cameras" related to the alleged suicide. They have also moved a request for the constitution of a medical board with a forensic expert for post-mortem analysis.
Additional rooms at the residence, which were inaccessible initially, were sealed by the CFSL, leading to the recovery of another copy of the will and final note. Electronic items were also seized from the premises.
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