NCSC seeks report on 'caste bias' allegations in Haryana cop's 'suicide note'

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) on Thursday, 9 October, directed the Haryana chief secretary to submit a detailed action taken report within seven days regarding the suspected suicide of senior IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar, who allegedly faced caste-based discrimination.

The officer, who reportedly shot himself at his residence in Chandigarh on Tuesday, had left a final note naming "senior officers" and detailing mental harassment and public humiliation he allegedly endured over several years.

Invoking its powers under Article 338 of the Constitution, the NCSC issued a notice stating that it intends to investigate and inquire into the circumstances surrounding the officer’s death.

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The notice instructed the Haryana government to provide a comprehensive action taken report, which must include:

• Full details of the incident

• Names of the victim and accused officers

• FIR number, arrests, and charges filed

• Compensation paid under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act

• A detailed annexure outlining the progress of the case

The Commission emphasized that failure to comply within the stipulated timeframe may result in summons being issued, leveraging the powers of a civil court granted to it under Article 338.

The move comes amid growing public and political attention on the alleged caste-based harassment faced by Y. Puran Kumar, highlighting broader concerns over systemic discrimination and accountability within the police force.

With PTI inputs