Rahul Gandhi alleges caste bias behind Haryana IPS officer’s death, calls it ‘deepening social poison’

Chandigarh: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that caste-based discrimination was at the root of the death of senior Haryana IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, calling the incident a reflection of the “deepening social poison” in society.

In a post on X, Gandhi wrote, “The suicide of Haryana IPS officer Y Puran Kumar is a symbol of the deepening social poison that is crushing humanity in the name of caste.” He further claimed that the officer had been subjected to humiliation and oppression because of his caste.

“When an IPS officer has to endure humiliation and oppression because of his caste – imagine the circumstances in which an ordinary Dalit citizen must be living,” he added.

Congress seeks probe into officer’s death

Y Puran Kumar, a 2001-batch officer of the Haryana cadre, was found dead at his residence in Sector 11, Chandigarh, on Tuesday, with a gunshot wound in what police have described as a suspected suicide. A purported suicide note was recovered from the spot.

His wife, IAS officer Amneet P Kumar, lodged a complaint on Wednesday against Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Singh Kapur and Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya, accusing them of caste-based harassment and abetment to suicide. In her complaint, Amneet alleged that a conspiracy was “being hatched on the directions of DGP Haryana Shatrujeet Singh Kapur” to falsely implicate her husband by fabricating evidence.

Following her letter to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini seeking action and security for her family, the Chandigarh Police on Thursday registered an FIR in connection with the officer’s death. Officials said the case is being investigated, and the safety concerns raised by the family are under review.

Gandhi links incident to broader pattern of injustice

Rahul Gandhi also connected the IPS officer’s death to other recent incidents, including the murder of Hariom Valimiki in Raebareli and the attempt to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India BR Gavai inside the Supreme Court.

He wrote that injustice against marginalised communities had reached its peak, blaming the BJP and RSS for fostering a divisive mindset. Gandhi said their “hatred and Manuvadi mindset” had filled “venom in the society.”

Valimiki, a Dalit man, was lynched by villagers in Uttar Pradesh’s Raebareli on October 2 after being mistaken for a thief. In another incident earlier this week, lawyer Rakesh Kishore attempted to throw a shoe at CJI Gavai during court proceedings. The Supreme Court chose not to take legal action against the lawyer, though he later made several remarks defending his conduct.

Congress leaders demand justice

Senior Congress leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Randeep Singh Surjewala have also called for an impartial investigation into the IPS officer’s death.

Hooda, the Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly, said, “The culprits should not be spared and no innocent should be harmed. It is the state government’s responsibility to ensure justice in this case. Suicide of such a senior police officer is a very tragic incident… If such a senior police officer is not safe today, one can imagine the plight of ordinary citizens.”

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala described the case as a “forced suicide” and termed it “both shocking and deeply tragic.”

In a post on X, he wrote that while Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini “remains silent,” it is hoped that the Chandigarh administration and the Union Home Ministry will act on the plea of Puran Kumar’s wife and ensure justice is served.