What Happened in the Haryana IPS Officer's Suicide Case? Union Minister Khattar Meets Puran Kumar's Family

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Puran Kumar's death raises serious concerns about caste discrimination in the police force.
- Government has pledged a fair investigation into the circumstances of his suicide.
- Support for the grieving families of police officers is crucial.
- Public attention is needed to address systemic issues within law enforcement.
- Accountability for officials involved in discrimination must be prioritized.
Chandigarh, Oct 23 (NationPress) On Thursday, Union Minister and former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar visited the grieving family of IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar, who tragically took his own life earlier this month. The Additional Director General of Police had previously accused senior officials within the police department of caste-based discrimination and held them accountable for his drastic decision.
Khattar extended his condolences to IAS officer Amneet P. Kumar, the widow of Puran Kumar.
The last rites for Puran Kumar were conducted with Amneet's approval on October 15, following a nine-day delay regarding his post-mortem.
This hold-up concluded when the Haryana government committed to a thorough and impartial investigation, promising that action would be taken against any misbehaving officials.
Puran Kumar’s funeral was attended by family, colleagues—including O.P. Singh, who has temporarily replaced Shatrujeet Kapur as Director General of Police—bureaucrats, politicians, and many mourners.
Following the family's agreement, an autopsy was conducted at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER). The PGIMER confirmed that the post-mortem was carried out on October 15 by a designated medical board, adhering to all necessary protocols. The report will be provided to the Investigating Officer of the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Authorities revealed that Additional Director General Puran Kumar died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound using his service pistol. He left a nine-page letter implicating 15 current and former officers and criticizing the state police's upper echelon for practicing casteism and bias.
Last week, Khattar also visited the family of Rohtak Police cyber cell ASI Sandeep Kumar Lathar, who reportedly committed suicide shortly after Puran Kumar. The Union Minister expressed his heartfelt condolences and assured the family that the government would offer a job to Sandeep's wife, along with financial assistance for their children's education.