In the wake of the alleged suicide of IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar, the Haryana government has transferred Rohtak Superintendent of Police (SP) Narendra Bijarniya. Bijarniya was among the officers against whom Kumar's wife, Amneet P. Kumar, sought action, alleging they abetted her husband's suicide. The transfer comes amid mounting pressure from the deceased's family and opposition parties.
Y. Puran Kumar, a 2001-batch IPS officer, was found dead at his Chandigarh residence on October 7 with a gunshot wound. In a "final note," Kumar accused multiple senior officers of prolonged caste-based discrimination, targeted mental harassment, and humiliation. The note named 14 senior officers, including Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Singh Kapur and Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya.
Following the incident, Chandigarh Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against 11 of the accused under charges of abetment to suicide and relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. However, Kumar's wife, Amneet P. Kumar, who is a senior IAS officer, expressed dissatisfaction with the invoked provisions and refused to allow an autopsy until justice was served. The FIR has since been amended to include Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act, which allows for stricter punishment if an offense is committed due to a person's caste and results in grievous injury or death.
The state government has appointed senior IPS officer Surinder Singh Bhoria as the new Rohtak SP. The posting orders for Bijarniya will be issued separately.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has stated that anyone found guilty in the investigation will face action, regardless of their position. He also requested the opposition not to politicize the matter. Chandigarh DGP Sagar Preet Hooda visited Kumar's residence and said that discussions are underway to address the family's grievances, which are the reason for withholding consent for a post-mortem examination.
Several officials and ministers from Haryana and politicians from various states have met with Kumar's wife. The Haryana IAS Officers' Association has urged the state government and the Chandigarh administration to take the issues raised by Kumar's wife with "utmost seriousness".
The family's refusal to allow a post-mortem examination has added to the controversy. They also objected to shifting the body from the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital in Sector 16 to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) without their knowledge.
A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to probe the case. The SIT is tasked with collecting evidence, examining witnesses, and preparing a comprehensive report. The team has sought detailed records of the FIR registered in Rohtak on October 6, a case that the family believes triggered Kumar's extreme step. The FIR in Rohtak involves allegations against a staff member of IGP Puran Kumar for allegedly pressuring a liquor contractor to pay a monthly sum to "IG Sahab".
The incident has sparked outrage and demands for justice from various quarters. Opposition parties have criticized the government's handling of the case, with some leaders calling for the removal of accused officers who have the power to influence the probe.
