Chandigarh, Oct 11: Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday expressed solidarity with Amneet P. Kumar, wife of late Haryana IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, who allegedly died by suicide on October 7, calling the incident a stark reminder of how even top-level officers can face social injustice due to discriminatory attitudes.
In a letter to Amneet P. Kumar, Sonia Gandhi wrote, “The passing away of Mr. Y Puran Kumar reveals that even the highest-level officers can be denied social justice because of the prejudices and preconceived notions of those in power. Crores of Indians stand with you in your fight for justice.” She added that the incident underscores the ongoing challenges posed by biased and prejudiced attitudes, and offered her prayers for the family’s strength, patience, and courage in this difficult time.
Y Puran Kumar, an Inspector General of Police, reportedly shot himself with his service revolver at his Chandigarh residence, leaving behind a nine-page suicide note accusing nine serving IPS officers, a retired IPS officer, and three retired IAS officers of caste-based discrimination. The note included allegations against high-ranking officials, including DGP Shatrujeet Singh Kapur and Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya. Following the incident, Bijarniya was removed from his post and replaced by Surinder Singh Bhoria.
Amneet P. Kumar, a senior Haryana cadre bureaucrat, had earlier written to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, expressing anguish over what she described as “grave injustice” and “complete administrative inaction” in the days following her husband’s death.
Congress leaders, including MPs Deepender Hooda and Randeep Singh Surjewala, visited the family and criticized the government for failing to address the officer’s grievances. Surjewala remarked, “If an ADGP-rank officer can be forced to commit suicide due to caste discrimination, one can imagine the plight of the common man.” He also questioned why Puran Kumar was denied temple visits, permission to go home after his father’s death, and why his complaints went unanswered.
The tragic case has ignited calls for justice and accountability, highlighting issues of caste bias and administrative negligence even at the highest levels of the police service.
