9 weeks on, family seeks FIR in Lopoke CHC suicide case

Nine weeks after a 35-year-old man allegedly died by suicide inside the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Lopoke, his family has written to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, seeking registration of an FIR against hospital staff for medical negligence and abetment to suicide.

The deceased, Vinod Kumar, was found hanging on the hospital premises on January 13 after being brought there with severe breathing difficulties. His family alleged that despite his critical condition, he was denied timely medical care, including oxygen support and basic monitoring, and was not referred to a higher facility.

In a letter dated March 22, Parveen Kumar, brother of the deceased, accused the hospital staff of inhuman behaviour, verbal abuse and harassment, claiming it pushed Vinod into extreme distress leading to suicide. While the post-mortem confirmed death by hanging, the family has linked it directly to alleged negligence. They also alleged that repeated complaints to police have not led to registration of FIR.

Drawing parallels with the recent Gagandeep Singh Randhawa suicide case, the family has demanded similar swift action, including a fresh independent probe and strict legal proceedings against those responsible.