Haryana Police Chief Addresses Recent Officer Suicides: "Real World Morale Remains Strong Despite Social Media Narratives"

Haryana DGP OP Singh.

Panchkula (Haryana): Haryana's Director General of Police OP Singh addressed the recent tragedies within the force on Tuesday, drawing a distinct line between social media narratives and ground realities. "There are two worlds these days: social media and the real world. No one's morale was shattered, nothing happened," he stated firmly, emphasizing the police force's continued resilience despite recent events.

The DGP's comments followed the tragic death of Rohtak ASI Sandeep Lathar, who allegedly died by suicide after making corruption allegations against recently deceased IPS officer Y Puran Kumar and his family.

During his press interaction, DGP Singh elaborated: "There is no problem in the real world. Whatever was happening was happening on social media. I'm deeply saddened that two of our colleagues who had served the country and its people for 20-25 years are no longer with us. We are the police force and our fight continues... Do we have the luxury to be disheartened? No one's morale was affected. There's the social media world constantly creating fear... The more viewership they get, the more revenue flows to America..."

Earlier, Singh had expressed profound grief over losing two officers and confirmed that the force was distressed by these events. He emphasized, "We are seriously contemplating measures to prevent such situations in the future."

"We intend to strengthen the Officers' Wives' Association. Our responsibility extends beyond officers to encompass their families, working to create environments where such tragic decisions aren't considered," he added.

The Haryana Police chief highlighted the importance of honoring police personnel and veterans. He noted with pride that no officers lost their lives between 1967 and 1977, expressing his commitment to maintaining similar safety records. He mentioned ongoing technological upgrades to enhance departmental efficiency.

Singh outlined several priorities: "Ensuring experienced officers effectively manage their jurisdictions, maintaining public order during gatherings, and strengthening security measures for transporting criminals to detention facilities. With Diwali approaching, we're implementing additional precautionary measures."

Reflecting on the recent suicides, he emphasized plans to enhance the Officer Wives Association to improve both living conditions and family environments for police personnel. "These efforts aim to prevent similar incidents and ensure mental resilience for facing professional challenges. Policing inherently involves confronting difficulties," he stated.

OP Singh received the additional responsibility of Haryana's DGP after previous DGP Shatrujeet Kapur was placed on leave following allegations related to IPS Y Puran Kumar's death.

IPS officer Y Puran Kumar reportedly died by suicide at his Chandigarh residence in Sector 24 on October 7. In a separate incident on Tuesday, ASI Sandeep was discovered under suspicious circumstances near agricultural fields in Rohtak's Ladhot village.