NEW DELHI: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday wrote to Amneet Kumar, wife of senior Haryana IPS Y Puran Kumar, who died by suicide at his Chandigarh official residence.In his suicide note, Puran Kumar named 16 senior IAS and IPS officers, alleging harassment and holding them directly responsible for his decision to take the extreme step.Kharge, in the letter, said Kumar’s suicide has left him with a heavy heart and flagged the social prejudices and systemic inequities.“I write this letter to you feeling deeply hurt and shaken, almost at a loss for words. The tragic news of your husband, senior Haryana-cadre IPS officer ADGP V.Y. Puran Kumar, ending his life while grappling with social prejudices and systemic inequities, has left my heart heavy,” Kharge’s letter read, which he wrote a day after Sonia Gandhi expressing her shock over the incident.The Congress chief said the incident was a “result of the biased and discriminatory mindsets”. “In my long experience, I have witnessed many events closely, but this painful incident, resulting from bias and discriminatory mindsets, has caused immense sorrow to me and to all of us who fight for social justice. While we celebrate achievements like planting our flag on the moon, it is deeply shameful that we could not empower those entrusted by the Constitution with the duty to relieve the public of suffering and injustice,” he added. He further said: “In this moment of grief, we stand with you. The questions he raised will reach a decisive resolution. You, too, must find the strength and courage to endure this difficult time.”Puran Kumar, who held the rank of additional director general of police (ADGP), reportedly shot himself at his government accommodation.The Chandigarh Police rushed to the spot after receiving the information and have cordoned off the area. The weapon used in the incident was recovered, and forensic teams arrived on-site for examination.Amid growing pressure following Puran’s death by suicide, the Haryana government replaced Rohtak Superintendent of Police Narendra Bijraniya with Surinder Singh Bhoria, officials said on Saturday.On Wednesday, sources told TOI that the state government is also considering sending Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Singh Kapur on long leave, and may even appoint an “officiating DGP” to defuse the mounting tension within the police ranks.Chandigarh Police, two days after Kumar’s death (on Thursday), registered an FIR (No. 156) at Sector 11 police station, based on his eight-page suicide note.The government’s move to reshuffle key police posts follows growing outrage within the civil and police services, as well as demands from the public for accountability and transparency in the probe.Puran Kumar’s note named eight senior IPS officers, including DGP Kapur and SP Bijraniya, alleging harassment and attempts to malign him.The case has been registered under charges of abetment to suicide and relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.Kumar’s wife, 2001-batch IAS officer Amneet P Kumar, has demanded the suspension and arrest of all officials mentioned in the note.She personally handed over her complaint to chief minister Nayab Singh Saini when he visited their Sector 24 residence in Chandigarh around 12.30 pm on Thursday.The chief minister stayed for nearly 45 minutes, offering condolences and joining the family in prayer.In her letter, Amneet alleged that the officers named in her husband’s suicide note were responsible for “harassment, humiliation, and mental torture” leading to his death.She said the note should be treated as a dying declaration and urged authorities to act swiftly to prevent interference or tampering with evidence.She also sought permanent security for her family, particularly their two daughters, citing “serious threat and mental distress.”The officer’s family reportedly refused to perform his last rites until “justice is served.”
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