Chandigarh, March 25 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday gave the Punjab government two days to explain the delay in registering an FIR over the alleged assault of an Army officer by Patiala police personnel.
Justice Sandeep Moudgil also issued a notice of motion to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the state on a plea filed by Colonel Pushpinder Bath, who was allegedly attacked by the police.
The court further asked the government why it did not act on another complaint filed by a police official who claimed to have sustained injuries during the incident.
Last week, 12 Patiala police personnel, including three inspectors, were suspended, and a departmental probe was launched against them for allegedly “kicking, punching, and brutally assaulting” Colonel Bath and his son. The suspended inspectors were identified as Harry Boparai, Ronnie Singh, and Harjinder Dhillon, along with nine other cops and their gunmen.
The Colonel, currently posted at the Army headquarters in New Delhi, alleged that he was assaulted on the night of March 13. He and his son, Angad Singh, are undergoing treatment at the Military Hospital for injuries sustained during the attack.
“It was a brutal attack in which my father suffered a fracture in the left arm along with many other injuries inflicted with blunt weapons. I also suffered multiple injuries as over 10 cops pounced on me after I tried to save my father,” Angad alleged.
Jaswinder Bath, the Colonel’s wife, claimed that the family was at a dhaba near Rajindra Hospital when the incident occurred.
“While my husband and son were standing outside their car and having food, the cops asked them to move their vehicle. When my husband objected to their tone, one of them punched him. They then beat him and my son, leaving them severely injured,” she alleged.
However, one of the suspended policemen claimed that the Colonel and his son initiated the attack.
“They were drinking in the open. When confronted, they attacked us,” he said.
Dhaba owner Karan, who claimed to be present at the scene, said the Colonel and his son were drinking from glasses placed on their car.
“Two other vehicles arrived later. Both factions were in civvies and got into a scuffle over parking,” he added.
Read More: FIR Registered in Colonel Bath Assault Case, SIT Formed
