Chandigarh: In a late-night move on Monday, the Haryana government placed Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur on leave, following mounting pressure over the suicide of senior IPS officer Y Puran Kumar. The decision comes days after the transfer of Rohtak Superintendent of Police Narendra Bijarniya and escalating public and political scrutiny.
Y Puran Kumar, a 2001-batch IPS officer and Additional Director General of Police, was found dead from a gunshot wound at his Chandigarh residence on October 7. In a nine-page “final note”, Kumar, who belonged to a Scheduled Caste, accused Kapur, Bijarniya, and several other senior police and IAS officers of caste-based harassment and professional victimisation.
Official response and leave of DGP
Haryana Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Rajeev Jaitly confirmed that DGP Kapur had been sent on leave but did not specify the duration, stating that further details would be communicated later. The move followed a week-long impasse over Kumar’s post-mortem, as his wife, IAS officer Amneet P Kumar, refused consent for the autopsy. She insisted that the government take action against all officers named in the suicide note before proceeding.
Investigation underway
The Chandigarh Police has registered a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the circumstances surrounding Kumar’s death. Officials have stated that the post-mortem examination cannot proceed without the family’s approval, intensifying the pressure on state authorities.
Political and public pressure
The case has attracted national attention, with protests organised by Dalit organisations demanding accountability. Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale met with Amneet P Kumar in Chandigarh, promising full support. He later met Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, urging swift and impartial action on the family’s demands.
Congress Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to meet the family on Tuesday, reflecting the escalating political involvement in the matter. Public protests and social media campaigns have amplified calls for justice and highlighted concerns about caste-based discrimination within the police force.
Background and implications
Y Puran Kumar’s suicide has brought renewed attention to issues of professional harassment and bias in government services, especially against officers from marginalized communities. His “final note” detailed instances of public humiliation, denial of leave, and workplace discrimination, sparking widespread outrage.
The leave of the state’s top police officer, DGP Kapur, indicates a significant response by the government to mounting pressure, both political and social. Observers note that the handling of this case could have far-reaching implications for police accountability and caste-based justice in Haryana.
The family, political leaders, and civil society groups continue to demand full investigation, action against implicated officers, and transparency in the probe. With public attention remaining high, authorities are under intense scrutiny to ensure impartial and timely justice.
