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Jind: Assistant Sub-Inspector Sandeep Kumar Lathar of Haryana Police’s Cyber Cell, who allegedly died by suicide on Tuesday, was cremated with full honours in his native place, Julana, on Thursday by his 10-year-old son Rihan in the presence of other family members, political leaders and senior police officials.

The ceremony witnessed a large turnout of political and administrative dignitaries. Four state ministers, the Deputy Speaker, and senior police officials, including  DGP OP Singh, attended the cremation. Prominent opposition leaders, including MP Deepender Singh Hooda, Ajay Singh Chautala, and others, were also present.

Earlier in the day, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar met the bereaved family and assured them that the ASI’s wife would be given a government job and that the state government would bear the educational expenses of their children. Khattar said he had conveyed these assurances to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who had visited the family a day earlier and promised justice.

Postmortem Conducted Under Video Supervision

Following the FIR, Sandeep’s body was shifted late Wednesday night to PGIMS, Rohtak, where a panel of doctors conducted the postmortem on Thursday morning. The entire procedure was videographed in the presence of senior officials, and heavy police deployment was maintained around the mortuary to ensure law and order.

After the examination, the body was taken to Julana in a flower-adorned vehicle, where thousands of villagers, police personnel, and local leaders gathered to bid farewell.

Family Voices Faith in Administration

Sandeep’s cousin Sanjay said, “The FIR has been registered based on the suicide note and video. We have full faith in the administration and expect a fair investigation. We have seen the FIR, but do not have a copy of it. We have no additional demands.”

Another relative, Satyavan, added that the family’s decision to hand over the body was unanimous. “Officials gave us assurances on Wednesday night, and we are satisfied with the action taken so far. The last rites have been completed peacefully,” he said.

FIR Registered After Family’s Protest

The cremation followed a day-long standoff between the police and Sandeep’s family, who refused to hand over the body until an FIR was lodged against those named in the suicide note and video. In both, the ASI had levelled serious allegations against the late IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar, his wife, IAS officer Amneet P. Kumar, and other subordinates.

After nearly 24 hours of negotiations, police registered an FIR under IPC sections relating to abetment to suicide and criminal conspiracy against IAS officer Amneet P. Kumar, AAP MLA from Bathinda Rural (Punjab) Amit Rattan, Head Constable Sushil Kumar, and SIS Sunil Kumar. The case was filed based on a complaint by Sandeep’s wife, Santosh Devi.

Police officials said the FIR has not been made public on government instructions, though the family was allowed to read its contents. According to sources, the registration came after intense pressure from the family, which had been holding the body at Ladhaut village for nearly a day.

Sandeep allegedly shot himself with his service pistol on Tuesday afternoon in a room located in a field on the outskirts of Ladhaut village. His body was discovered soon after. In a suicide note and video, he accused senior officers, including the late IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar, of harassment and mental pressure.

The incident has widened the shadow over the death of IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar earlier this month in Chandigarh. Kumar, found with a gunshot wound at his residence, had himself been under inquiry. The two cases—though distinct—have drawn political attention for their sensitive nature within Haryana’s police establishment.

Apart from Khattar and Saini, several senior leaders, including former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, INLD president Abhay Singh Chautala, and other Opposition figures, visited the Lathar family to express solidarity and demanded a transparent probe.

Police sources said the investigation would be monitored at senior levels, and statements from all accused individuals, including the IAS officer and the AAP MLA, will be recorded soon.