The Haryana government has sent the Director General of Police, Shatrujeet Kapur, for allegedly harassing the IPS officer, who died by suicide, on leave. The action was taken amid mounting political and public pressure over the alleged suicide of an IPS officer.
This comes days after the BJP-led Nayab Singh Saini government transferred Rohtak Superintendent of Police Narendra Bijarniya.
Y Puran Kumar, a 2001 batch IPS officer, was found dead from a gunshot wound at his home in Chandigarh on October 7. Kumar, who belonged to the Schedule Caste category, had allegedly left behind a nine-page-long suicide note.
In the suicide note, Kumar accused DGP Shatrujeet Kapur and Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya of caste-based harassment and professional victimisation.
He had also named 7 other serving officers, a retired IPS officer, and three retired IAS officials in the suicide note.
Haryana Chief Minister’s office confirmed that the DGP has been sent on leave. But, the duration of Kapur’s leave hasn’t been confirmed by the officials.
The Haryana government took action against the accused police officers following mounting pressure from opposition parties and Dalit organisations.
The Chandigarh police have formed a Special Investigation Team and filed a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi called for an urgent action in the case. Gandhi said the death by suicide of the IPD officer not only affecting the family but also 'millions of Dalits' across the country.
Gandhi said, "They are Dalit couple and one thing is clear that there was a systematic discrimination for years to demoralise this officer and to damage his career and his reputation by other officers." Rahul added, "As a LOP, my message to PM Modi and CM Saini is that you should allow the funeral procession of the officer to take place and stop this drama."
Dalit organisations have also given an ultimatum to the Haryana government to take action against the named officers.
Notably, the post-mortem of the deceased police officer is still pending. Kumar’s wife has refused consent for an autopsy, demanding strict action against all the officers named in the suicide note.
