Dual Police Suicides in Haryana: IPS Officer Y Puran Kumar Cremated Amid Corruption and Discrimination Allegations

Y Puran Kumar, a 52-year-old 2001 batch IPS officer, was cremated in Chandigarh on Wednesday following his postmortem at PGIMER, eight days after his alleged suicide.

The funeral took place after his IAS wife Amneet P Kumar consented to the autopsy, stating she received assurances of an impartial investigation from Chandigarh Police into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Earlier that day, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini visited the family of Assistant Sub-Inspector Sandeep Kumar, who allegedly died by suicide the previous day. The ASI had reportedly made corruption allegations against the late Inspector General Puran Kumar in a video and note left behind.

At the Sector 25 cremation ground, Puran Kumar's wife and two daughters paid their final respects before the cremation ceremony, which included a gun salute from a police contingent. Numerous dignitaries attended, including Haryana DGP O P Singh, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sumita Misra, various politicians, and representatives from Dalit organizations.

The postmortem was conducted by a specially constituted medical board at PGIMER with videography and photography arrangements in place. The report will be submitted to the Special Investigation Team of Chandigarh Police handling the case.

In her statement, Amneet Kumar explained she agreed to the autopsy considering its evidentiary importance and in the interest of justice. "I have full faith in the Judiciary and the police authorities, and I sincerely hope that the investigation will be conducted in a professional, impartial, and time-bound manner, so that the truth emerges in accordance with law," she said.

The consent for postmortem came after Chandigarh Police approached the court seeking direction for the family to identify the body for examination. Amneet Kumar stated she received commitment from the Haryana government that action would be taken against any "erring" officials.

Chief Minister Saini, accompanied by ministers Mahipal Dhanda, Krishan Lal Panwar, and BJP leader Manish Grover, visited ASI Sandeep Kumar's family in Ladhot village, Rohtak, assuring them of appropriate action. The ASI's family has demanded justice.

The dual suicides have deepened concerns about alleged discrimination and corruption within the Haryana police force. ASI Sandeep Kumar's six-minute video and suicide note leveled corruption allegations against Puran Kumar and suggested the senior officer ended his life "to avoid family humiliation."

In response to these events and mounting pressure, the Haryana government sent DGP Shatrujeet Kapur on leave and appointed O P Singh, a 1992-batch IPS officer, as acting DGP. Earlier, Rohtak Superintendent of Police Narendra Bijarniya had been transferred. Both were among eight officials named in Puran Kumar's note alleging "blatant caste-based discrimination, targeted mental harassment, public humiliation and atrocities."

Police sources indicated that ASI Sandeep Kumar had been involved in the arrest of head constable Sushil Kumar, allegedly an aide of Puran Kumar. In his video, the ASI compared his actions to Bhagat Singh's sacrifices, claiming that "honest officer" Bijarniya had confronted Puran Kumar.

Y Puran Kumar, who had recently been implicated in a bribery scandal, was known for his advocacy regarding officers' rights and seniority issues during his career. The Chandigarh Police has formed a six-member special investigation team to investigate his death.