Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh)– Days after the shocking death of senior Haryana IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, his body was cremated at the Sector 25 cremation ground in Chandigarh on Wednesday afternoon. The cremation came only after a court-supervised post-mortem was completed at PGIMER, following delayed consent from the officer’s family.
The 52-year-old officer, a 2001-batch IPS officer, was found dead from a gunshot wound at his private residence in Sector 11 on October 7. The case gained widespread attention after reports emerged that the officer had left behind an eight-page note accusing several high-ranking police officials of discrimination and harassment, allegedly linked to his caste background.
Delayed Post-Mortem Due to Family’s Demand for Accountability
Initially, the deceased officer’s family declined permission for the autopsy, demanding action against those named in the purported note. However, after several rounds of back-and-forth between legal representatives and the police, a breakthrough came on Wednesday morning.
In a public statement, the officer’s wife, IAS officer Amneet P. Kumar, confirmed that she agreed to the post-mortem after assurances from both Chandigarh Police and the Haryana government that the investigation would be conducted impartially and that no officer found guilty would be shielded.
Autopsy Conducted at PGIMER Under High Scrutiny
A special team of doctors carried out the post-mortem at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), with arrangements made for full videography. The process was conducted in the presence of an executive magistrate and a ballistic expert to ensure the examination met all legal and forensic standards.
“The autopsy was performed by a duly constituted medical board and the findings will be submitted to the investigating team handling the case,” PGIMER officials said.
After completion of the post-mortem, the remains were handed over to the family and brought to the official residence of Amneet P. Kumar in Sector 24, before the funeral procession moved to the crematorium.
Court Steps In to Prevent Further Delay
On Tuesday, the Chandigarh Police had approached a local court seeking directions to facilitate the post-mortem, citing the refusal of the family to cooperate. The court had issued a notice requiring a response by October 15. Hours later, the matter was resolved and the medical examination proceeded without further delay.
Note Left Behind Allegedly Details Harassment
Sources close to the investigation revealed that the note found at the scene accuses eight senior IPS officers of caste-based discrimination, humiliation, and mental torture. The note is being reviewed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by Chandigarh Police.
The officer’s death has reignited conversations around caste bias and mental health in elite civil services, prompting calls for systemic reforms and stronger grievance redressal mechanisms within police departments.
Final Farewell Amid Growing Demands for Justice
As the family and close associates gathered for the last rites, emotions ran high. Several senior government officials were present at the cremation, though no political statements were made at the site.
Investigators have assured the public that no stone will be left unturned in uncovering the truth behind the officer’s death. The SIT is expected to record statements of the officials named in the note and review Kumar’s service history and mental health records as part of its inquiry.
With the cremation complete, focus now shifts fully to the investigation—one that could have far-reaching implications for the structure and culture within police institutions across the country.
