Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed a high-level magisterial inquiry into the tragic death of a 40-year-old man from Kashipur, who died by suicide hours after publicly accusing the Udham Singh Nagar police of severe mental harassment. The incident has sent shockwaves through the state, raising serious questions about police conduct and justice.
A Tragic End on New Year's Trip
The victim, identified as Sukhwant Singh, a resident of Paiga village, was in Haldwani with his family to celebrate the New Year. In the early hours of Sunday, around 2:30 AM, a horrifying scene unfolded inside a hotel room in Gaulapar. Preliminary investigations reveal that Sukhwant allegedly attempted to shoot himself in front of his wife, Pradeep Kaur, and their 12-year-old son.
A brief struggle ensued as Pradeep bravely tried to snatch the weapon, sustaining minor scratches in the process. She and her son then rushed to the hotel reception to seek help. Tragically, left alone in the room, Sukhwant fired a fatal shot to his head. The gunshot triggered panic among other guests, who immediately informed the police.
Facebook Live Allegations Precede Death
This desperate act came shortly after Sukhwant Singh took to Facebook Live, making grave allegations against the Udham Singh Nagar police and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP). In the video, he claimed he was being subjected to intense mental harassment in connection with a property dispute. He alleged that false cases were being fabricated to force him into a compromise.
Expressing a complete loss of hope after four months of alleged torment, Sukhwant demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into his ordeal. His family has supported these claims, accusing several individuals of cheating him out of nearly Rs 4 crore in a fraudulent land deal.
His father, Ajay Singh, stated that while his son was promised 7 to 7.5 acres of land, he was given a single plot valued at around Rs 50 lakh, which later turned out to be fake. The entire amount was allegedly siphoned off. The family claims no action was taken despite repeated complaints to the police.
Official Response and Ongoing Investigation
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, taking swift note of the incident, ordered a fair and transparent magisterial inquiry. He warned of strict action if any lapse or culpability is found. The inquiry has been entrusted to Kumaon Commissioner Deepak Rawat.
Following the incident, a team from the Kathgodam police station reached the hotel, recovered the weapon, and sent the body for a post-mortem examination. A forensic team was also deployed to examine the scene.
SSP Manikant Mishra acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations made in the video. "All claims made on social media are being verified. The inquiry has been handed over to Bazpur circle officer and a fair investigation will be conducted," he said. However, Mishra also noted that Sukhwant Singh had a criminal history, with several cases registered against him at the ITI police station in Udham Singh Nagar.
"There was a financial dispute between the parties, and applications were submitted by both sides. The matter was addressed at the police station level, but Sukhwant continued to make the allegations," the SSP added. The case now awaits the findings of the commissioner-led inquiry, which will determine the full sequence of events and any potential police misconduct.
