Uttarakhand Farmer's Suicide Sparks Police Action and Official Probe
A tragic incident in Uttarakhand has led to immediate disciplinary action against police personnel. Authorities suspended two officers and transferred ten others to Police Lines on Monday. This swift response followed the alleged suicide of a 40-year-old farmer from Udham Singh Nagar district.
Facebook Live Video Precedes Death
Sukhwant Singh reportedly shot himself in the head early on Sunday in Haldwani. Moments before his death, he went live on Facebook. In the video, he purportedly read from a nine-page suicide note. Singh directly blamed the police for mental harassment and inaction regarding his long-standing land dispute.
His family members have made serious allegations. They claim Singh was cheated of approximately Rs 4 crore in a land deal. Repeated complaints to the police were allegedly ignored over a period of four years. The farmer belonged to Paiga village in the Kashipur area of Udham Singh Nagar.
Chief Minister Orders Transparent Investigation
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took quick notice of the case. On Sunday, he directed authorities to investigate the matter fairly and transparently. The Chief Minister ordered a magisterial inquiry into the entire incident. He tasked Kumaon Commissioner Deepak Rawat with leading this official probe.
Following these orders, police administration acted promptly. They suspended Station House Officer Kundan Singh Rautela of the ITI police station. Sub-Inspector Prakash Bisht from the same police station also faced suspension. Departmental proceedings have been initiated against both officers.
Ten Personnel Transferred to Police Lines
In addition to the suspensions, ten police personnel faced immediate transfer. These officers were posted at the Paiga outpost under the ITI police station. Authorities sent them to Police Lines in Rudrapur. The transferred group included Outpost In-Charge SI Jitendra Kumar and Assistant SI Somveer Singh.
Udham Singh Nagar SSP Manikant Mishra has called for a separate, detailed probe into the incident. He assigned the SP (Crime) to submit a comprehensive report on the matter. This indicates multiple layers of investigation are now underway.
Contrasting Narratives Emerge
Sukhwant Singh's final video message presented a grim picture. He claimed he had lost all faith in the justice system. According to his statement, false cases were being used to pressure him into a compromise over the land dispute.
Police had previously offered a different perspective on the situation. They stated that multiple cases were registered against Singh. Authorities described the incident as primarily a case of financial dispute during initial statements.
Details of the Tragic Incident
Preliminary investigations have revealed disturbing details about the suicide. Singh allegedly attempted to shoot himself in front of his wife, Pradeep Kaur, and their 12-year-old son. This occurred at a hotel in Gaulapar, Haldwani, around 2:30 AM on Sunday.
A brief struggle ensued when his wife tried to snatch the weapon from him. During this attempt, she sustained minor scratches. Pradeep and her son then rushed to the hotel reception to seek immediate help. Left alone in the room, Singh reportedly fired a single shot to his head.
The case continues to develop as investigations proceed at multiple levels. The magisterial inquiry and police probes aim to uncover the complete truth behind this tragic event.
