Haryana ASI shoots himself dead, accuses late IG Puran Kumar of corruption

In a development that has further deepened the crisis engulfing Haryana’s police force, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sandeep Kumar allegedly shot himself dead at his home in Rohtak on Tuesday, leaving behind a purported video and a suicide note accusing late Inspector General (IG) Y Puran Kumar of corruption.

- SWATI MAHAJAN

The incident has added new layers of controversy to the ongoing turmoil following the suspected suicide of the senior Dalit officer earlier this month.

Sandeep Kumar, who was attached to the cyber cell, was found dead at his residence on Tuesday morning. According to officials, his body was discov ered hours after the Haryana government late on Monday night sent Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapur on leave, appointing 1992-batch IPS officer O P Singh as acting DGP. Kapur was one of eight officers named by Puran Kumar in a note alleging caste-based harassment and discrimination before his death.

Rohtak Superintendent of Police S S Bhoria, who visited the site, said, Puran Kumar of corruption "ASI Sandeep was a hard-working and honest person in our department. We received information that a body has been found, after which we reached here." When asked about the alleged suicide note and video, Bhoria said the forensic team was examining both, adding, "To say anything at this stage is difficult." The six-minute video and threepage note reportedly contained allegations against the late IG, although their authenticity has yet to be verified. In the purported recording, Sandeep Kumar invokes freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, saying, "Even Bhagat Singh made sacrifices and walked a difficult path, after which the country awakened. And today, this country will awaken when we sacrifice ourselves on the path of truth." He also claimed that former Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya had "confronted Puran Kumar".