A wave of grief and anger swept Haryana late Monday as the state government sent its top cop, DGP Shatrujeet Kapur, on leave, days after senior IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar was found dead under troubling circumstances. This decision, taken close to midnight, follows escalating protests and demands for accountability over allegations of caste-based harassment levelled against senior police officials in Kumar’s final note.
Kumar, a 2001-batch officer serving as Additional Director General of Police, was found dead at his Chandigarh home on October 7 with a gunshot wound. A nine-page note recovered from the scene accused top officers, including DGP Kapur and Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya, of caste-based harassment and professional victimization.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s media advisor confirmed that Kapur has been placed on leave “until further notice.” The decision came amid growing protests and grief, as Kumar’s wife, IAS officer Amneet P. Kumar, has refused to allow the postmortem until action is taken against those named in her husband’s note.
Chandigarh Police has registered a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and formed a Special Investigation Team. The postmortem remains on hold pending the family’s consent.
As public anger deepens, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has met the bereaved family and the Chief Minister, urging a fair and time-bound probe. Dalit groups have also issued ultimatums demanding justice, while more political leaders are expected to visit the family in the coming days.
The Haryana government has vowed that “no one will be spared” once the investigation concludes.
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