A Family's Heartbreak: Demanding Justice Before Final Rites for Suicide-Stricken Engineer

The air in Chandigarh is thick with sorrow and a fierce demand for justice following the tragic suicide of P.C. Chopra, a 56-year-old Junior Engineer with the Punjab Mandi Board. It was on April 18th that Chopra, overwhelmed by what his family describes as unbearable pressure, took his own life by hanging. But this isn't just another sad story; it's a testament to a family's resolve, as his wife, Neena Chopra, has made a heart-wrenching vow: no final goodbyes, no cremation, until those she holds responsible for her husband's death are brought to justice.

You see, P.C. Chopra didn't suffer in silence without leaving a trace of his anguish. A suicide note, discovered shortly after his death, has become the focal point of this desperate plea. In it, he explicitly named three individuals: P.P.S. Bhullar, who serves as the Secretary of the Punjab Mandi Board; Anil Kumar Singla, the Chief Engineer; and a contractor named Tarun Kumar. According to Chopra’s final words, these three were the source of immense harassment and pressure, pushing him to the brink.

Mrs. Chopra's stance is unwavering. Standing firm amidst her profound grief, she has declared that her husband's body will remain uncremated until the named officials are taken into custody. It's a powerful, albeit agonizing, form of protest, underscoring the depth of her belief that these individuals directly abetted her husband's suicide. The police, for their part, have indeed registered an FIR under Section 306 (abetment to suicide) of the Indian Penal Code, and DSP Palwinder Singh is spearheading the investigation, diligently trying to piece together the events that led to this tragedy.

What exactly drove P.C. Chopra to such a desperate act? His family paints a picture of a man under relentless strain. They allege that the pressure primarily stemmed from issues concerning pending payments to a contractor – none other than the aforementioned Tarun Kumar. It seems Chopra found himself caught in an impossible bind: Bhullar, the Secretary, had reportedly put a hold on these payments, while Tarun Kumar, the contractor, was constantly hounding Chopra for their release. Imagine the immense stress of being the man in the middle, facing demands from both sides with seemingly no way out.

Adding to his woes were incessant transfers, which, as anyone knows, can be incredibly disruptive and emotionally draining. Chopra had been shunted from Patiala to Fatehgarh Sahib, then on to Samana, only to be transferred back to Patiala just before his death. Such frequent dislocations can destabilize anyone, let alone someone already struggling under professional duress. The family also recounted a period where Chopra was asked to resign due to some allegations, though, tellingly, the board later dropped that idea. These events, combined, had, they say, left him profoundly mentally disturbed.

The family's heartbreak is palpable. They firmly believe that the mental torture inflicted upon P.C. Chopra by Bhullar, Singla, and Tarun Kumar directly led to his decision to end his life. Their demand isn't just for arrests; it's for accountability, for acknowledging the human cost of alleged workplace harassment and bureaucratic gridlock. As the investigation continues, the community watches, waiting to see if justice will indeed be served, allowing a grieving family to finally lay their loved one to rest.