A five-member committee, headed by IG STF Dr. Nilesh Anand Bharne, has been formed to investigate the suicide case of farmer Sukhwant Singh in Haldwani. The SIT will investigate the video made by Sukhwant before his death and the complaints he made through emails from various locations. For a fair investigation, all 12 police personnel who have come under scrutiny so far have been transferred to Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts of the Garhwal range.
Farmer Sukhwant Singh, a resident of village Paiga, ITI police station area in Udham Singh Nagar, committed suicide by shooting himself in a hotel in Haldwani on the night of January 10th and 11th. Before committing suicide, Sukhwant Singh uploaded a video on Facebook in which he accused the local ITI police of not taking action in a multi-crore rupee fraud case against him. Sukhwant Singh also left a suicide note. A magisterial inquiry has also been initiated in this case on the instructions of the Chief Minister. The IG Kumaon was also directed to investigate the matter at the police level.
In the course of action, three personnel, including ITI police station in-charge Kundan Singh Rautela, were suspended. Nine other police personnel were transferred to the police lines. Police spokesperson Sunil Kumar Meena said that a high-level SIT has now been formed under the leadership of IG STF Dr. Nilesh Anand Bharne. The members of the SIT include SP Champawat Ajay Ganpati, CO Tanakpur Vandana Sharma, Champawat Inspector Diwan Singh Bisht, and SI Manish Khatri.
The SIT will investigate Sukhwant Singh’s video and the complaints made through email. The local people and police personnel against whom Sukhwant Singh made allegations will be investigated. If the allegations are found to be true, legal action will be taken against all of them
