Panipat farmer ends life, 2 cops booked for abetment

KARNAL : Two cops were booked for abetment to suicide after a 32-year-old farmer ended his life by consuming a poisonous substance at Bhapra village of Panipat district on Saturday.

The family members of deceased Sunil Kumar alleged that three cops, including assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Subhash Singh and head constable Ved Prakash, had been harassing him and demanding bribe. However, the police said the investigation was on to ascertain the identity of the third cop allegedly involved in the case.

Sunil’s family members, who had come to take his body from Panipat civil hospital after postmortem, alleged that on March 14, Sunil spotted a young girl and a boy in his agricultural field and he immediately informed the cops through the police helpline.

Later, the police came to his field and took the duo in custody. Next day, the police approached Sunil and took him to Samalkha police post. Cops told Sunil that the girl accused him of molestation and they allegedly demanded Rs 1-lakh bribe from Sunil to settle the case.

Family members said that for the past couple of days, Sunil had been tense and he consumed a poisonous substance on Saturday. He was taken to a private hospital, where he died during treatment.

Talking to Hindustan Times, Samalkha deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Naresh Kumar said, “ASI Subhash Singh and head constable Ved Prakash have been suspended and booked under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). A department inquiry has also been ordered against them.”

The DSP said the investigation was going on to ascertain the identity of another cop allegedly involved in the case.

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Investigation is on to ascertain the identity of another cop involved in the case, as alleged by the kin of the victim NARESH KUMAR, Samalakha DSP