Chandigarh: In a new development in the case of Dalit IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar's suicide, an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police posted in Haryana's Rohtak allegedly took his own life Tuesday (October 14) afternoon.

ASI Sandeep Kumar reportedly left behind a suicide note and a video that has complicated the ongoing row surrounding Puran Kumar's death by levelling corruption allegations against the latter.

Meanwhile, the Chandigarh police have moved a court seeking permission to conduct a post-mortem of Puran Kumar's body as well as to include his laptop in their investigation. The officer's family has refused to grant permission for his post-mortem and to hand over his laptop pending the fulfilment of their demands.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Rohtak superintendent of police (SP) Surinder Singh Bhoria described the deceased ASI as a hardworking and honest employee and said that a probe was underway to ascertain the facts.

But the new development has turned the clock back on the sequence of events leading to the suicide of the late IPS officer on October 7.

A day before Puran Kumar was found dead at his Chandigarh residence, the Rohtak police – then under SP Narendra Bijarniya – had arrested head constable Sushil Kumar, a close associate of the late officer, on charges of allegedly demanding a bribe from a local liquor businessman.

Bijarniya was later quoted in an Indian Express report as saying that Sushil demanded the bribe in Puran Kumar's name and that the head constable had even confessed to accepting money using the officer's name.

It was this episode which, Puran Kumar's family has claimed, drove the officer to suicide – an episode that they allege was part of a conspiracy orchestrated by state director general of police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapur and Bijarniya.

But Sandeep, in his purported video recorded before his alleged suicide, claimed that both Kapur and Bijarniya were honest officers.

On the contrary, he alleged that certain police officials – a direct reference to Puran Kumar – were involved in corruption, harassing fellow officers and committing atrocities against honest personnel.

In the video, Sandeep can also be heard saying that “someone has to sacrifice his life to awaken the nation”, while demanding that a probe be conducted into the assets of Puran Kumar and his family members.

Sandeep further claimed that the late officer was facing mounting pressure after his corrupt practices came to light. According to him, Kumar took his own life due to fear of an impending inquiry, not because of any form of social prejudice or caste discrimination as he claimed in his suicide note.

Amid this row, Mukesh Kumar, secretary of the 31-member Y. Puran Kumar Nyay Manch, told The Wire that it appeared the episode was linked to attempts to derail their demand for justice for Puran Kumar.

He said: “We are just as saddened by ASI Sandeep Kumar's death as we were by Puran Kumar's. We demand that an impartial investigation be conducted into the death of ASI Sandeep Kumar so that the truth comes out for everyone.”

According to him, the Morcha has decided to hold a march from Sector 17 in Chandigarh to the Union territory administrator's official residence pressing for the fulfilment of their pending demands, including Kapur and Bijarniya's arrest, besides a judicial probe under a retired Supreme Court judge.

Sending the DGP on leave or transferring the former Rohtak SP is mere eyewash, Mukesh Kumar, said. They must be suspended and arrested, he added.

“We keep fighting till the family is given justice.”

It is learnt that the Haryana government late on Monday sent Kapur on leave and gave his charge to O.P. Singh.

Post-mortem crucial at this stage to secure key evidence, police argues in court

Meanwhile, the Chandigarh police on Tuesday moved an application in a local court seeking permission for Puran Kumar's post-mortem.

Hearing the matter, the court has sought a reply from the officer's family, following the receipt of which it will decide the matter.

Eight days have passed since Puran Kumar's death but his post-mortem could not be held as his family has not granted permission for it, insisting on the fulfilment of their pending demands first. 

But the local police have told the court that at this stage it is crucial to conduct the post-mortem examination as soon as possible to secure important forensic evidence and assist the process of justice.

Along with this, the Chandigarh police has also filed another application in the court seeking directions to include the deceased's laptop in the investigation – which the late officer's family has refused to hand over.

According to police, all efforts by the government to persuade the family have failed and it has hence moved the application.

Sources in the police claimed that while it is trying to persuade the family to agree, the police in circumstances where evidence may be destroyed have the authority to conduct a post-mortem without the family's permission under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.

If you know someone – a friend or a family member – at risk of suicide, please reach out to them. The Suicide Prevention India Foundation maintains a list of telephone numbers they can call to speak in confidence. Icall, a counselling service run by TISS, has maintained a crowdsourced list of therapists across the country. You could also take them to the nearest hospital.

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