On Tuesday, October 14, Congress leader and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi visited the house of IPS Puran Singh, who committed suicide due to caste harassment, to console him. Obviously, today the eyes of the entire country are on senior Haryana cadre IPS officer Y. who committed suicide at his residence in Sector-11, Chandigarh on 7 October 2025. Was at Puran Kumar’s house. He shot himself with his service revolver.
Puran Kumar, 52, was a 2001 batch IPS officer who Haryana Was posted as ADGP in police. His death not only shook the police department, but also brought the issue of caste discrimination and administrative harassment in the spotlight again in the entire country. In his eight-page alleged suicide note, Puran Kumar had accused eight senior IPS officers, including Haryana DGP Shatrujit Kapoor, of caste-based mental harassment, public humiliation and systematic harassment. His wife, senior IAS officer Amneet P. Kumar, also filed a complaint, demanding action under the SC/ST Act.
But Rahul Gandhi Shortly after the visit, news comes that Sandeep Kumar Lather, an ASI of Haryana Police, committed suicide by shooting himself. ASI has also released a video recording before the suicide. Along with this, he has also left a suicide note. The deceased ASI has made serious allegations against the late IPS officer Y Puran Kumar in his suicide note. ASI has written that Y Puran Kumar was involved in corruption and was hijacking the system with the help of casteism. In the note, the ASI said that he has given martyrdom against the corrupt system and demanded a fair investigation against this family.
Lather’s suicide has turned this entire case upside down. Along with this, no one in history had ever taken a step like suicide to prove the innocence of their super boss. Obviously, Rahul Gandhi and Congress ASI’s suicide may also fail the strategy.
Will Dalits come back with Congress?
Rahul Gandhi’s dream of becoming a Dalit iconic leader is not today’s. Rahul has been vocal for the last many years about continuously conducting caste census, protecting the Constitution, increasing the limit of reservation etc. He has also taken advantage of this. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Dalit votes have shifted from BJP to Congress.
Obviously, Congress and Rahul Gandhi feel that the Dalit community, which was their traditional voter, can come back with them. Thinking this, Rahul Gandhi continuously talks about Dalits and backward people in every forum and every meeting. With this thought in mind, he reached Puran Kumar’s residence in Sector-24, Chandigarh on Tuesday. Rahul Gandhi assured the family that he will fight for justice from the streets to the Parliament. He told reporters, this is a tragedy.
Puran Kumar was an IPS officer, but he faced systematic discrimination for years. This is not just a matter of one family, but a question of respect for crores of Dalit brothers and sisters. If an IPS officer can be suppressed, what will be the condition of the common Dalit?
This meeting was not only an opportunity to express condolences, but also a part of the Congress’s strategy. Congress is in a strong position in Punjab. Congress is dreaming of forming a government there in 2027. Dalit vote in Punjab is close to 32 percent whereas in Haryana 22 percent Dalit vote is decisive. The party attacked the BJP government by making the suicide of IPS Puran Kunar a symbol of Dalit oppression. But the suicide of ASI Sandeep Lather has put an end to Dalit oppression. Now the question arises whether Congress will do anything further to strengthen the Dalit vote bank in the name of IPS suicide case or will it leave this issue here?
Congress’ strategy: To strengthen vote bank by giving color of Dalit oppression
Without any delay, Congress immediately made this incident an issue of Dalit oppression. It is clear that Rahul Gandhi’s meeting was its culmination. Rahul Gandhi told the family members of the deceased IPS that due to the death of Puran Kumar, a wrong message is being sent to crores of Dalit brothers and sisters of the country that no matter how qualified you are, if you are a Dalit, you will be suppressed.
He accused CM Saini that he assured justice to the family, but three days passed and no action was taken. Rahul also wrote a letter to PM Modi, demanding immediate investigation and action against the accused officials.
Other Congress leaders also became active. Party President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote a letter to Amneet Kumar expressing his condolences and said, this is the result of BJP’s Manuwadi system. Citing NCRB data, he cited a 46% increase in crimes against Dalits and 91% increase against tribals between 2013-2023. Former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi described Kumar as a martyr and said that he was the one who refused to open fire on the farmers, hence he was suppressed. Kumari Shailja, Randeep Singh Surjewala and Deependra Singh Hooda met the family in Chandigarh and said, this is the rot in the system.
Did ASI’s suicide change the game?
Just hours after Rahul Gandhi’s visit, the news of suicide of ASI Sandeep Kumar Lather came. In his suicide note and video, Lather made serious allegations against IPS Puran Kumar. As if they were involved in corruption, and were trying to suppress the entire system by resorting to casteism. He described himself as a martyr against the corrupt system and wrote that Puran Kumar was not innocent but was trying to hide the truth.
Obviously this incident has shocked the entire narrative of Congress. Now BJP supporters and critics on social media are raising questions whether Rahul Gandhi made the mistake of drawing political conclusions before the investigation was completed? Did Congress try to take political advantage by making a one-sided story the Dalit card? It is obvious that if this matter gains momentum then Congress may have to face adverse consequences in Punjab and Haryana.
Why the risk increased for Congress
The question is being raised that Congress was trying to influence the investigation by playing the caste card. ASI’s suicide has weakened Congress’ narrative of Dalit martyr. Now the opposition will target Rahul Gandhi’s personal visit by calling it a political drama.
This may raise questions on the seriousness of Congress and its sensitive image.
On the other hand, now the problems of both CBI and SIT are going to increase. On one hand there is complaint of Puran Kumar’s family, on the other hand the suicide of ASI has raised the demand for a new investigation. Obviously, Congress leaders will now have to keep their mouths shut. Now along with Puran Kumar’s suicide, Congress will also have to talk about ASI Sandeep Lather. Otherwise the party will be badly stuck in Haryana and Punjab.
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