The standoff between the family of late IPS officer Y Puran Kumar and the Haryana government continues as despite the state government putting pressure on all its top ministers, political advisors to the Chief Minister and top bureaucrats, the family still did not agree to the post-mortem today. Since October 7, Kumar’s body has been lying in the mortuary awaiting the family’s consent.
Acknowledging a demand of the family, Chandigarh Police on Sunday included stringent provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (Section 3(2)(v)) in the FIR registered in connection with Kumar’s alleged suicide. IGP Pushpendra Kumar, who is heading the SIT, confirmed the inclusion of Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act in the FIR.
Chandigarh Police arrested Haryana IPS officer Y. The charges were added on the request of the officer’s wife in the First Information Report (FIR) filed in connection with the alleged suicide of Puran Kumar. Earlier, a 31-member committee formed to pressurize the family to accept its demands had demanded the immediate removal of Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujit Kapoor. Kapoor was among the officers named in the “last note” left by 2001 batch IPS officer Puran Kumar. Puran Kumar was found dead due to bullet injuries at his residence on October 7.
IPS officer’s suicide, deadlock continues over postmortem
Six days after the alleged suicide of Haryana IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, the deadlock over his postmortem did not end on Sunday. The 31-member committee formed to demand justice for the family of the deceased officer has given state police chief Shatrujit Kapoor a 48-hour ultimatum to remove him from his post.
Puran Kumar’s family said that they will not give consent to the postmortem and cremation of the body until their demands are met. However, the Haryana government is making efforts to persuade Puran Kumar’s wife – Amneet P Kumar, a senior IAS officer serving in Haryana.
48 hour ultimatum to remove DGP
In a related development, Chandigarh Police, which is investigating the alleged suicide case, on Sunday sent a request letter to Amneet P Kumar, requesting him to “come forward at the earliest for PME (postmortem) for identification of the body as it is necessary for the investigation.” Chandigarh Police has also sought necessary documents from the Haryana government to investigate the case.
Meanwhile, Haryana Governor Asim Kumar Ghosh met Kumar’s family on Sunday and expressed his condolences. Kumar, 52, a 2001 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, had allegedly shot himself at his residence in Sector 11 here on October 7. In the eight-page ‘last note’ Kumar allegedly wrote before his death, he has accused eight senior IPS officers, including Haryana DGP Kapoor and former Rohtak Superintendent of Police Narendra Bijarania, of allegedly harassing him and maligning his image.
He has also detailed alleged harassment, including caste-based discrimination, by some other officials in the note. Bijarania was transferred to the post of Rohtak SP on Saturday. Haryana Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Krishna Kumar Bedi on Sunday expressed hope that the issue would be resolved soon.
Meanwhile, the 31-member committee held a mahapanchayat at Guru Ravidas Bhawan in Sector 20 on Sunday and gave a 48-hour ultimatum to the Chandigarh administration and the Haryana government to remove Kapoor. The Haryana DGP is one of the police officers against whom Kumar’s wife has sought action for allegedly abetting suicide.