Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 11: The tragic alleged suicide of senior Haryana IPS officer Y Puran Kumar on October 7 has escalated into a major political and social justice issue. The Inspector General reportedly shot himself with his service revolver at his Chandigarh residence, leaving behind a "final note."

On Saturday, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi wrote to the officer's wife, senior Haryana bureaucrat Amneet P. Kumar, expressing her condolences and throwing her weight behind the family's fight for justice. Gandhi's letter stated that the incident "reveals that even the highest-level officers can be denied social justice on account of the discriminatory attitude and the preconceived notions of the powers that be," adding that "Crores of Indians stand with you." She stressed that the case serves as a grim reminder that "prejudiced and biased attitude of those in power deprives even the highest-ranking officials of social justice."

Ms. Kumar had earlier sent an "urgent and confidential" letter to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, alleging "grave injustice" and "complete administrative inaction" in the 48 hours following her husband's death.

The nine-page "suicide note" reportedly accuses nine serving Haryana IPS officers, a retired IPS officer, and three retired IAS officers of "caste-based discrimination." Among the serving officers named were DGP Shatrujeet Singh Kapur and Rohtak Superintendent of Police Narendra Bijarniya.

In response to the controversy, the government has since removed Bijarniya from his post as Rohtak SP, though he has not yet been assigned a new posting.

Other Congress leaders have also publicly taken up the issue. MP Deepender Hooda met with the family, noting that their belief in justice had been shaken by the government's perceived lack of timely, lawful, and moral action. MP Randeep Singh Surjewala highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, "If an ADGP-rank officer is not being given justice... and can be forced to commit suicide," it speaks volumes about the plight of the common man in Haryana. Surjewala also raised several pointed questions, including why the officer was allegedly denied permission to visit a temple, go home when his father passed away, and why his letters on casteism went unanswered. He further alleged that the officer's body was forcibly moved for autopsy without the family's consent.