Haryana IPS officer’s death row: Why is the family holding back post-mortem? What are their key demands?

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini with the family of deceased IPS officer Y Puran Kumar. (Image credit: @NayabSainiBJP/X)

The standoff between the family of deceased IPS officer Y Puran Kumar and the Haryana government continues, as the family again refused to allow the post-mortem on Sunday.

Despite repeated requests from top government officials, ministers, and the Chief Minister’s advisors, the family has not given consent. Since October 7, Kumar’s body has remained in the mortuary, awaiting the family’s approval for the examination.

Why is there a delay in post-mortem?

Kumar’s wife, IAS officer Amneet P Kumar, has sought the removal and arrest of Both DGP Shatrujeet Kapur and former Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya and demanded that all officers named in Kumar’s “final note” be made accused in the FIR.

In a major development, the Chandigarh Police on Sunday added stricter provisions under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Section 3(2)(v), to the FIR registered in connection with Kumar’s alleged suicide.

IGP Pushpendra Kumar, who is leading the Special Investigation Team (SIT), confirmed the inclusion. This section applies when a crime is committed against a person specifically because of their caste. According to the police, the suicide note left behind by Kumar mentioned caste-based harassment and humiliation, which formed the basis for adding this section.

Kumar, a 2001-batch IPS officer from Haryana, was found dead on October 7 in what police suspect to be a case of suicide. The note recovered from the scene allegedly accused senior officers of caste discrimination, public humiliation, and continuous mental harassment.

What are the demands?

A 31-member committee formed to seek justice for the officer has given a 48-hour ultimatum to both the Haryana government and the Chandigarh Administration. The group has demanded strong action against those named in the suicide note and a high-level probe into the role of senior police officers.

“The Haryana DGP must be removed immediately. Both DGP Shatrujeet Kapur and former Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya should be arrested,” committee member Karamvir Boudh was quoted by The Indian Express as saying. The committee warned that if the government fails to act within two days, large-scale protests will follow.

Meanwhile, the Haryana government has made its first move in the case by transferring Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya, one of the officers named in Kumar’s note. Bijarniya, a 2015-batch IPS officer, will receive a new posting soon. Surinder Singh Bhoriya, a 2014-batch IPS officer, has been appointed as the new SP of Rohtak.