CHANDIGARH: Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur, in the eye of a storm following the suicide of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, was on Monday sent on leave.Rajiv Jaitly, media adviser to Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, confirmed the development but the official order was yet to be released till the filing of this report.
The decision came past midnight —a few hours after a mega celebration in Sonipat on Friday to mark a year of the Saini govt was put on hold in view of the deepening tensions over Puran Kumar’s death. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to address the ‘Jan Vishwas-Jan Vikas’ rally.Pressure was mounting on govt to take action against Kapur, as Puran Kumar’s wife, IAS officer Amneet P Kumar, had refused to allow autopsy or cremation until the DGP was removed. The stalemate dragged on for nearly a week.
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Dalit groups were piling on the pressure and a ‘mahapanchayat’ set up for justice to the family had handed an ultimatum of 48 hours, which expires on Tuesday.The top brass of Haryana govt, including chief principal secretary to CM Rajesh Khullar, held meetings with the family but the deadlock persisted. IPS officer Narendra Bijarniya, who too was named in Puran Kumar’s suicide was removed as Rohtak SP but Amneet stuck to her demand for action against the Haryana DGP.After a series of meetings on Monday that stretched till midnight, it was decided to send Kapur on leave.The aftershocks were felt on another front — govt’s plan to celebrate the first anniversary of the Saini govt.Protests by Dalit groups and growing support of opposition parties for the grieving family were casting long shadows on the event.According to sources, the decision to postpone it was taken after CM Nayab Singh Saini and chief secretary Anurag Rastogi chaired a meeting to review arrangements at the Sonipat venue.Also read: Haryana on alert as tension rises over IPS officer’s suicideMultiple meets led to midnight call on DGPAfter a series of meetings on Monday that stretched till midnight, it was decided to send Kapur on leave. The aftershocks were felt on another front — govt’s plan to celebrate the first anniversary of the Saini govt.Protests by Dalit groups and growing support of opposition parties for the grieving family were casting long shadows on the event. According to sources, the decision to postpone it was taken after CM Nayab Singh Saini and chief secretary Anurag Rastogi chaired a meeting to review arrangements at the Sonipat venue. After the meeting, the CM set off for New Delhi by road where he would have stayed for the night and met dignitaries the next day. He was also due to attend a programme in Nuh on Tuesday.Chandigarh Police, continuing their investigation, have served a notice to IAS officer Amneet P Kumar, widow of the deceased, asking her to submit her late husband’s laptop to the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The laptop is reportedly where Kumar had drafted his suicide note, which remains saved in the device’s drafts.
Rahul Gandhi & Chirag Paswan to visit dead IPS officer’s kin today
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is due to visit the family on Tuesday. So will Union minister from Bihar, Chirag Paswan.Politicians from across the country are making a beeline to visit the Kumar household in Chandigarh to console the grieving family.Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale and Telangana deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka met the deceased officer’s wife, IAS officer Amneet P Kumar, in the morning.After meeting the family, Athawale said he has assured them of all support and that the entire country’s SC community is awaiting action against the officers responsible for Kumar’s suicide. Later, Athawale also met Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini and discussed the case. Both Athawale and Paswan are allies of ruling BJP.Also read: Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur sent on leave amid IPS officer’s suicide rowThe Telangana deputy CM criticised Haryana govt for ‘inaction’ in the case. Puran Kumar was a native of Telangana.“In his dying declaration, the deceased named Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur and SP Narendra Bijarnia, accusing them of humiliation and harassment leading to his suicide. As per law, a suicide note is treated as a dying declaration, warranting strict action. However, Haryana authorities have failed to act, which is both pathetic and inhuman. I demand that Haryana and Centre take immediate action against both officers,” Vikramarka said.K Raju, AICC in charge of Jharkhand Congress, alleged that authorities are not complying with the constitutional provision that provides for equality before law. “Action against senior officers responsible for driving the IPS officer to suicide is not being taken as they are high ranking officers. Delay in action is lowering the morale of the educated Dalit youth of the country,” he said.Punjab ministers Harbhajan Singh, Harpal Singh Cheema, Mohinder Bhagat and Dr Ravjot Singh visited the family, along with former Lok Sabha MP Prem Singh Chandumajra. Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) president Abhay Chautala also consoled the family. The Sarva Khap Maha Panchayat has also announced support to the deceased IPS officer’s family. Pawanjeet Bhanwala, spokesperson for Sarv Jatiya Sarv Khap Mahapanchayat and Jat Mahasabha, said that a meeting of Sarv Khap will be held on Tuesday at Narwana in Jind district.
