“Truth demands sacrifice,” said the ASI in a viral video recorded moments before his death
Rohtak, Haryana — The Haryana Police is once again grappling with tragedy after Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sandeep Lather, posted with the Cyber Cell in Rohtak, allegedly took his own life on Tuesday. His body was found at a farmhouse along the Ladhaut–Dhamad Road, barely days after the death of senior IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, who too had died by suicide on October 7.
The incident has reignited debate over internal stress, corruption, and systemic issues within the state’s police establishment.
Body Found at Farmhouse, Suicide Note and Video Recovered
According to preliminary reports, Sandeep, a native of Jind district, had been working in Rohtak for over a year and was staying with his maternal uncle on Ladhaut Road. When he failed to report for work on Tuesday morning and did not respond to calls, colleagues began searching for him. Later, his body was discovered at a nearby farmhouse.
A police team, accompanied by forensic expert Dr. Saroj Dahiya, reached the site and collected evidence. Initial inspection pointed to a gunshot wound as the cause of death. The final autopsy and forensic findings are still awaited.
Authorities also recovered a three-page handwritten suicide note and a video message from the spot — both containing explosive claims.
Accusations Against Late IPS Officer Y Puran Kumar
In his note, ASI Sandeep made severe allegations against IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, accusing him of corruption and misuse of power. He alleged that Kumar had accepted huge sums of money to suppress a high-profile murder investigation connected to a senior political figure.
The note described Kumar as someone who “twisted the system through caste-based favoritism,” while declaring that Sandeep’s own death was an act of protest — a “sacrifice for truth and justice.”
Drawing parallels with freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, he wrote:
“The path of truth is never easy. Bhagat Singh gave his life for justice — I am prepared to do the same.”
Explosive Claims in the Video Message
In the video message that surfaced online soon after his death, Sandeep claimed to possess evidence exposing corruption among top police officials. He suggested that IPS Puran Kumar’s earlier suicide was linked to the same web of wrongdoing.
Among the serious claims he made were:
A ₹50 crore deal was allegedly struck to hush up a murder case involving a prominent political leader, Rao Indrajit Singh (as per his statement).
IPS Y Puran Kumar was allegedly shielding the accused and influencing postings using caste considerations.
DSP Narendra Bijarniya — who had been transferred after Kumar’s death — was described by Sandeep as “one of the few upright officers who resisted corruption.”
He also referred to a “nexus of certain IAS officers” who, according to him, were “protecting the corrupt and dividing the force through caste politics.”
While these allegations have created a storm, officials have emphasized that all material evidence, including digital files, will be verified before drawing conclusions.
Police Launches Probe into the Incident
A special inquiry team has been set up to investigate the circumstances of Sandeep’s death. Senior officers from the Rohtak range confirmed that both the note and the video have been preserved for forensic and cyber examination.
“The inquiry will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner. Every claim made by the deceased officer will be thoroughly examined,” a senior police spokesperson said.
Two Suicides, One Deepening Crisis
The back-to-back deaths of IPS Y Puran Kumar and ASI Sandeep Lather within a span of just over a week have left the Haryana Police in turmoil. Both officers, despite being at very different ranks, reportedly struggled with disillusionment and a sense of helplessness within the system.
Social groups and mental health professionals have expressed deep concern, urging the state government to launch an independent investigation and to strengthen psychological counselling and grievance redressal mechanisms within the police.
Civil rights advocates have also called for stronger action against caste-based discrimination and institutional harassment, pointing out that the recent deaths are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a larger systemic malaise.
