Senior Haryana police officer found dead in Chandigarh home, suicide suspected
Chandigarh (PTI): Senior Haryana police officer Y Puran Kumar allegedly shot himself dead at his Chandigarh home on Tuesday, officials said.
The 52-year-old 2001 batch officer, known for his interventions in matters related to the rights of officers and seniority and other issues, had recently been posted as inspector general, Police Training Centre (PTC), in Sunaria, Rohtak.
His wife Amneet P Kumar, an IAS officer and commissioner and secretary of the Department of Foreign Cooperation, Haryana government, is in Japan as part of a delegation led by Chief Minister Nayab Saini.
Police rushed to the Kumars' home in upscale Sector 11 after receiving information about the incident around 1.30 pm.
Details of the alleged suicide of the officer, who was found dead with a gunshot wound, were sketchy.
"The SHO, Sector 11, and his team inspected the scene. A reported suicide had taken place... The body was identified as that of Y Puran Kumar, IPS officer," Chandigarh Senior Superintendent of Police Kanwardeep Kaur told reporters.
Asked if there was any suicide note, she said, "A team of the CFSL (Central Forensic Science Laboratory) is inspecting the spot and investigations are on." Those present in the house at the time are being questioned, the SSP said.
Kumar was earlier posted as Rohtak Range IG and had recently been transferred as IG, PTC, Sunaria.
In recent years, the officer had been vocal about issues related to the representation of scheduled caste in police ranks.
During the parliamentary elections last year, Kumar had complained to the Haryana chief electoral officer on IAS and IPS officers holding multiple charges. He had also approached the state government alleging discriminatory and selective allotment of official vehicles to IPS officers in the state.
His death left police and administrative circles in shock.
"The Haryana Police is deeply saddened and shocked by the untimely demise of Shri Y. Puran Kumar, IPS, Inspector General of Police, P.T.C. Sunaria. We stand with his family in this difficult time. May God grant peace to his noble soul," Haryana police said in a post on X in Hindi.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
