The sudden death of senior IPS Officer Y Puran Kumar has triggered shockwaves across Haryana and Chandigarh, with allegations of caste-based harassment and systemic discrimination emerging from his final note. The 2001-batch IPS officer was found dead at his official residence in Chandigarh, allegedly after shooting himself with his service revolver. His death has now evolved into a major controversy, prompting widespread outrage, official investigations, and demands for justice.
According to initial reports, police recovered a nine-page suicide note from his home. In the note, Puran Kumar reportedly accused several senior police officials, including Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapur and Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarnia, of subjecting him to prolonged mental harassment, caste-based discrimination, and professional humiliation. He wrote that his repeated complaints to the administration had been ignored, leaving him feeling isolated and victimized within the system he had served for over two decades.
His wife, Amneet P. Kumar, an IAS officer, returned from abroad after learning of his death and formally filed a complaint against the officials named in the note. In her letter to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, she demanded the immediate registration of an FIR against the DGP, SP, and others mentioned in the note, alleging a clear conspiracy that led to her husband’s death.
Following her appeal, the Chandigarh Police registered an FIR invoking charges of abetment to suicide and sections under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The FIR names multiple senior and retired officers, signaling a potentially far-reaching investigation into systemic misconduct and caste bias within the state police hierarchy.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the case and sought an action taken report within seven days from the Haryana Chief Secretary and the DGP. Reports suggest that the DGP might be sent on leave pending the inquiry to ensure impartiality in the investigation.
The tragic incident has sparked a national debate on caste discrimination within the civil services, with calls for greater protection and accountability mechanisms for officers facing systemic bias. As investigations continue, the case of IPS Y. Puran Kumar stands as a grim reminder of the urgent need for reform within the administrative and policing framework.
