East Singhbhum- A trainee constable from the Ranchi District Police Force, identified as Constable 3016 Bajrangi Yadav (35), died on Tuesday, April 7, while undergoing basic training at the Constable Training Centre (CTC) Swaspur, Musabani in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand.

Bajrangi Yadav’s health reportedly deteriorated suddenly during training. He was first rushed to the UCIL Hospital in Jadugoda for treatment. Doctors there referred him to MGM Hospital in Jamshedpur for better medical care. However, he succumbed on the way to or shortly after reaching MGM Hospital.

The deceased constable hailed from Jayaprakash Chowk, Sakragarh in Sahibganj district of Jharkhand. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Trainee constables protest, seek action

According to the deceased's kin, Bajrangi Yadav had been unwell for the past four to five days. He had applied for leave approximately 10 days earlier through the leave section (training) at CTC Musabani, where Sub-Inspector Poonam Kumari Minj was the in-charge. His application was not forwarded to senior officers in time, and leave was not sanctioned. On the day his condition worsened, he again visited the office to request leave and waited for nearly two hours, but his request was not approved.

Fellow trainees alleged that applications for leave were frequently submitted by jawans, but ASI Poonam Kumari Minj did not forward them to higher authorities on several occasions.

Following the news of Bajrangi Yadav’s death, trainee constables at CTC Musabani became agitated. They staged a significant protest and created a ruckus, demanding strict action against ASI Poonam Kumari Minj. The protest left senior police officials at the centre stunned.

Taking immediate cognizance of the matter, the Superintendent of Police, CTC Swaspur, Musabani sought an explanation from Sub-Inspector Poonam Kumari Minj regarding the non-approval of Bajrangi Yadav’s leave application. Her submitted explanation was found unsatisfactory.

On April 8, ASI Poonam Kumari Minj was placed under suspension with immediate effect for alleged arbitrariness, high-handedness, and violation of orders. During the period of suspension, her headquarters will remain at CTC Swaspur, Musabani.

Demand for high-level, unbiased inquiry

Bajrangi Yadav’s brother, Rajkumar Yadav, has submitted a written application to the Deputy Commissioner of East Singhbhum, demanding an impartial and thorough inquiry into the incident. In the application, he stated that his younger brother had been ill for several days and had applied for leave for medical treatment, but it was not granted despite his deteriorating health. He alleged that Bajrangi was made to continue working even while unwell, which contributed to his death.

Rajkumar Yadav has demanded:

• A high-level, unbiased inquiry into the entire episode.

• Strict legal action against all those found guilty.

• Preservation of Bajrangi Yadav’s training diary and sharing of its contents with the family.

• Provision of government job, police welfare package, and all death-related benefits to the deceased’s wife and children under Jharkhand Police rules.

Copies of the application have also been sent to the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, the Director General of Police (DGP), Jharkhand, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in New Delhi, and the DIG.

Separately, Ramesh Uranw, General Secretary of the Jharkhand Police Men’s Association, has written to the Additional Director General of Police (Training), Jharkhand, Ranchi. In his letter, he highlighted that Bajrangi Yadav had been suffering from illness for a long time and had requested leave for treatment, which was denied by the CTC Musabani administration. Due to lack of proper medical care, the constable died, causing widespread anger among the trainees. The association has demanded the formation of a high-level inquiry committee and appropriate action against those responsible.

Bajrangi Yadav was attached to ‘B’ Company with Chest Number 126. His death has triggered strong reactions within the police training centre, raising serious questions about the handling of leave applications and medical emergencies during basic training.