Patiala, March 22 — Family members of Col Pushpinder Bath, joined by army veterans, staged a sit-in protest outside the Patiala deputy commissioner’s (DC) office on Saturday, demanding the immediate arrest of police officers accused of assaulting the army officer and his son.
The protesters pressed for the arrest of the officials, who have been booked under serious charges, including attempt to murder. The fresh FIR names inspectors Rauni Singh, Harjinder Dhillon, and Harry Boparai under Sections 109 (abetment of attempt to murder), 310, 155(2), 117(2) (both related to voluntarily causing hurt), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Two other policemen, Rajveer and Surjeet Singh, have also been booked.
Hours before the protest, Patiala DC Preeti Yadav met with Col Bath’s family in an attempt to dissuade them from demonstrating, but her efforts were unsuccessful.
Addressing the gathering, Jasvinder Kaur, wife of Col Bath, accused the Punjab Police of misusing their power. “This is a peaceful protest demanding justice for a citizen assaulted by 12 police personnel. The delay in registering the FIR shows the failure of Patiala SSP Nanak Singh in ensuring justice,” she said.
Former Patiala MP Preneet Kaur also met the DC, submitting a memorandum seeking justice for Col Bath and his son. “I am speaking not as a politician, but as the wife of an ex-serviceman, Captain Amarinder Singh. I strongly condemn this brutality. A thorough inquiry should be conducted, either jointly by the Indian Army or by a retired high court judge,” she stated.
The incident occurred on the night of March 13-14 near Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. Col Bath and his son were allegedly assaulted by police personnel in civilian clothes after a dispute over parking near a roadside eatery.
