Punjab: ASI shoots self at police station, blames senior in suicide note

A police spokesperson said Kumar was rushed to the hospital where he was declared brought dead.

Before killing himself, Kumar recorded a video message and also wrote a suicide note in which he has accused Tanda station house officer (SHO) Onkar Singh of harassing and misbehaving with him.

According to the note that he left behind, Kumar, who was posted as an investigative officer, SHO Singh reached the Hariana police station at around 9:30 pm on Friday. At that time, Kumar was at the police station quarters. When he reached the police station, the SHO sought details of some pending court cases, which Kumar said he provided. He alleged that the senior officer then started humiliating him.

Kumar, in his video and suicide note, further alleged that the SHO asked several questions, which were not related to his job. While leaving the police station at around 2:00am, SHO again rebuked and humiliated him, Kumar said in the video.

He said in the video that it was better to die than face such humiliation. Kumar further alleged that SHO Singh’s behaviour was rude towards all subordinates and earlier too a policeman had died by suicide because of such humiliation.

SHO Singh, however, refuted Kumar’s claims as “baseless allegations”. He claimed that the ASI was not in his uniform and he had only “questioned him a little bit” about it.

Hoshiarpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sartaj Singh Chahal has ordered an inquiry, to be led by by the superintendent of police (investigation). In a video message, the SSP said he has sent the accused SHO to police lines and assured a fair investigation.

He also assured support to deceased Kumar’s family and asked personnel to meet him directly to register their grievances.

Hariana police station SHO Baljinder Singh said the are recording the statement of Kumar’s wife following which a case would be registered under the relevant sections. Kumar two sons live in Canada.