India, Oct. 12 -- Punjab MP and former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Saturday described late IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar as "a martyr who stood up for Dalits and the poor," claiming that the officer had refused to open fire on farmers during the Haryana agitation.

Channi made the remarks after visiting the Chandigarh residence of Kumar and his wife, IAS officer Amneet P. Kumar. He alleged that Kumar, while posted in Haryana, was instructed to take harsh action against protesting farmers but refused to do so.

"During the farmers' protest, Y. Puran Kumar was told to open fire and take tough action against the agitating farmers. He refused to do so. That was his integrity," Channi said. "He did not commit suicide; he was martyred...