Haryana Cop’s Son Vows to Honor Father’s Legacy Amid Suicide Probe Linked to Corruption Claims
New Delhi: In a poignant display of resolve amid profound grief, the young son of a Haryana police officer who died by suicide has pledged to realize his father’s unfulfilled aspirations, drawing attention to a deepening scandal within the state’s law enforcement ranks.
The boy, his voice steady despite visible emotion, addressed a throng of journalists outside the funeral proceedings on Tuesday. “I take pride in my father,” he declared. “I will make certain every one of his dreams comes true.”
Assistant Sub-Inspector Sandeep Kumar Lathar, assigned to the cyber cell in Rohtak, ended his life that same day, leaving a handwritten note that leveled serious accusations of corruption against a senior colleague. That officer, an Indian Police Service (IPS) member named Y Puran Kumar, had himself taken his life just days earlier in the same district, injecting fresh complexity into the unfolding investigation.
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Lathar’s passing has directly implicated Kumar’s case, prompting Lathar’s wife to lodge a formal complaint with Haryana authorities. The filing, which charges abetment to suicide, relies on the damning note alongside a video purportedly recorded by Lathar himself, both serving as pivotal evidence in the inquiry.
Postmortem procedures were completed prior to the cremation rites held in Jind district that afternoon. Lathar’s daughter, speaking from the family’s home in Julana, expressed cautious optimism about official intervention. “My father sacrificed everything to combat corruption; he is a true martyr,” she stated. “I trust that the Haryana Police and the government will stand by us in seeking justice.”
The somber procession drew widespread community support. Scores of youth on motorbikes, waving Indian tricolors, escorted the police convoy bearing the body. Local residents and political figures from various parties gathered to pay respects, underscoring the incident’s resonance.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini visited the bereaved family on Wednesday to offer condolences. On Thursday, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced state assistance, including employment for Lathar’s widow and funding for the children’s education, following his personal outreach to the household.
Puran Kumar’s funeral occurred in Chandigarh the previous day, where his body was discovered bearing fatal gunshot injuries inside his residence. In contrast, Lathar’s remains were found in a rudimentary structure on a Rohtak farmland.
Addressing the dual tragedies, Haryana Police Director General OP Singh emphasized preventive measures during a media briefing in Karnal. “We have lost two dedicated officers,” he noted. “Our priority is to fortify support systems, including bolstering the Officers’ Wives Association Institute, to avert such heartbreaking outcomes.”
Meanwhile, Chandigarh Police have assembled a dedicated six-member team to scrutinize Puran Kumar’s death thoroughly.