BATALA, Aug 9— Two Punjab Police personnel have been suspended for allegedly assaulting a local journalist in Batala, an incident captured on video and widely circulated, a senior police official said Friday.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sanjeev Kumar said the assault took place on Aug. 1 and involved sub-inspectors Surjit Singh and Mandeep Singh of the 5th Battalion of Punjab Police Commandos, stationed in Bathinda. “They had come to Batala in connection with a law and order duty assigned to them here,” Kumar said.
The video shows the two policemen, one in uniform, dragging journalist Balwinder Singh on a busy street, punching him, and knocking him to the ground. The officer in uniform is seen kicking the journalist, who then collapses into a roadside puddle. As he lies motionless, the two policemen walk away.
Kumar said the altercation began when the journalist approached the officers at their hotel and asked questions about their assignment in Batala. “Suddenly, there was some heated exchange after which the incident happened,” he said.
An FIR was lodged on Aug. 2 on the journalist’s complaint, and both officers were suspended pending investigation, the DSP added.
