'Prejudiced Attitude of Those in Power...': Sonia Gandhi's Letter to Wife of Haryana IPS Officer Who Died by Suicide

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has written to the wife of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, who allegedly committed suicide, expressing her condolences and highlighting the role of bias and prejudice in denying

social justice, even to senior officials.In her letter to Amneet P Kumar, a senior IAS officer serving as Commissioner and Secretary in the Haryana government, Gandhi said she and millions of Indians stand with her in seeking justice. "The news of the tragic death of your husband and senior IPS officer, Mr. Y Puran Kumar, is both shocking and deeply saddening. My heartfelt condolences to you and your entire family in this time of immense difficulty," Gandhi wrote on Friday.She added, "The passing of Mr. Y Puran Kumar is a reminder to us that even today, the prejudiced and biased attitude of those in power deprives even the most senior officials of social justice. I and millions of people of the country stand with you on this path to justice. May God grant you patience, courage, and strength in this difficult situation."Kumar, 52, a 2001-batch Indian Police Service officer, allegedly shot himself at his residence in Chandigarh Sector 11 on Tuesday. He had most recently been posted as Inspector General of the Police Training Centre in Rohtak's Sunaria.His wife, Amneet Kumar, was part of a delegation led by Saini on a three-day tour of Japan when her husband allegedly shot himself in Chandigarh. She alleged that her husband's death was the result of "systematic persecution" by high-ranking officers.Kumar reportedly left behind an eight-page suicide note in which he named eight senior IPS officers, including Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur and Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya, accusing them of harassment and humiliation over several years.Following the allegations, the Haryana government on Saturday transferred Rohtak Superintendent of Police Narendra Bijarniya amid controversy surrounding the alleged suicide of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar. In a brief official order issued on Saturday, IPS officer Surinder Singh Bhoria was appointed as the new Rohtak SP. It said the posting order of Bijarniya will be issued separately. There was no mention of Puran Kumar's death case.

CM Saini Condoles IPS Officer's Suicide

Meanwhile, in his first public comments over a case involving an IPS officer's death, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini assured the deceased's family members on Saturday that they will get justice.Addressing a gathering of BJP workers in Panchkula, Saini said Kumar's family members have told him that they want justice. "I have said that we will probe the matter and whosoever is found guilty, action will certainly be taken against him, no matter how big a person he may be," the chief minister said.He further said he has spoken to the deceased's wife, Indian Administrative (IAS) officer Amneet P Kumar. "We are also in touch with the Centre for the resolution of this issue," he said.Saini asked the opposition parties not to indulge in politics over the issue. If the deceased's family feels that injustice has been done with it, "we will ensure justice", he said."The family will get justice," the chief minister asserted.Describing Puran Kumar's death as unfortunate, Saini said he had asked two officers to accompany the deceased's wife on her way back to India from Japan after she was informed of her husband's demise.

Chandigarh Police Constitutes SIT

The Chandigarh Police registered an FIR on Thursday on charges of abetment to suicide and under the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, based on the deceased officer's "final note".The Chandigarh Police constituted a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Friday for a "prompt, impartial and thorough" probe in the matter in a time-bound manner. Chandigarh's Inspector General (IG) Pushpendra Kumar will lead the SIT.In her complaint to the Chandigarh Police on Wednesday, Amneet Kumar sought an FIR against Kapur and Bijarniya under section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (abetment to suicide) and the relevant provisions of the SC-ST Act, demanding their immediate arrest.Meanwhile, several officials and political leaders, including Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala, Deepender Hooda, Charanjit Singh Channi, and AAP leader Manish Sisodia, met Kumar’s wife, IAS officer Amneet P Kumar, to offer support. BSP chief Mayawati said the case underscores that caste discrimination persists in governance and demanded an independent investigation.