Bid to politicise, give caste colour to Haryana IPS officer death case ‘inappropriate’, says Union Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal

Union Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal on Thursday termed “inappropriate” the attempt to politicise and give caste colour to the alleged death by suicide of Haryana IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar at his residence in Chandigarh on October 7. The 52-year-old officer, who was serving as the Inspector General of Police at the Police Training Centre in Sunaria, Rohtak, had accused eight senior police officers of “blatant caste-based discrimination, targeted mental harassment, public humiliation, and atrocities” in a note.

Mr. Lal made the comments during an interaction with mediapersons at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, where he met the family members of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Haryana Police Sandeep Kumar Lather, who ended his life on October 14 after accusing the deceased IPS officer and his family of corruption in a letter and a video. Lather, posted in Rohtak’s cyber cell, had shot himself dead with his service revolver in Ladoth village, the police said.

Terming both incidents “very unfortunate”, the Union Minister said this should not have happened, but now it is time to handle the situation well. “Unfortunately, some political leaders tried to politicise the first incident and an attempt was made to give it a caste colour, which was not appropriate.”

Alluding to corruption, Mr. Lal said a social evil was, no doubt, the central issue in both incidents. He added that it was a matter of investigation and a legal issue, and justice would be delivered to both families.

The Union Minister also made an appeal to “leading people of society” and the two families not to make the two incidents about issues of caste and communities, and prevent their politicisation.

On compensation given to Lather’s family, Mr. Lal said they had sought a job for his wife, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini had agreed to the demand. He added that the State government would “take care” of the education of the policeman’s children.

Mr. Lal also posted on his X account about meeting the bereaved family.

Following the post-mortem, the last rites of Lather were performed at his native town, Julana, in the afternoon in the presence of villagers, Haryana’s acting DGP O.P. Singh, and politicians across party lines.

Case registered

An abetment to suicide case has been registered in connection with the death of Lather based on the note and video he left behind, the Haryana police said on Thursday.

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