Assault case: They treat us like second grade citizens, think Army is nothing, says Colonel’s wife on Punjab Police

Kaur accused the police of shielding certain personnel from being named in the FIR due to their professional accolades.

Jaswinder Kaur Bath, the wife of Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath, who was allegedly assaulted by Punjab Police personnel in Patiala, has raised serious concerns over the handling of the case, alleging that authorities are delaying justice.

Addressing the press on Friday, she claimed that despite waiting for over an hour, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav refused to meet them. “We went to meet DGP Gaurav Yadav, but he was busy. We waited for one and a half hours, but then he left without meeting us. He is an army officer’s son, but he still did so,” she remarked.

Kaur also spoke of the emotional toll the incident has taken on her family, stating that her son has lost faith in the system. “I am raising my voice just because my son said that he would not stay in this country as it is not worth staying. I had to prove to him that justice would be given,” she said.

Following this, she approached Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, who, she said, was 'moved' by her account. “We went to meet the governor, and he had tears in his eyes when I spoke to him and when I showed him the pictures and the brutality. He called the DGP and told him that FIR is my right with all the names and to please do what is needed. The governor then told us that if the FIR is not registered, we should get back to him. I want to thank the governor for standing up with us,” she said.

She also responded to media reports quoting Patiala SSP Nanak Singh, who had stated that a magisterial inquiry had been initiated but that the FIR could not be altered. “I came to know through the media that SSP Nanak Singh had said that a magisterial inquiry had been set up, but the FIR could not be changed,” she said, questioning why a fair probe was not being ensured.

Kaur accused the police of shielding certain personnel from being named in the FIR due to their professional accolades. “A police inspector told me that we cannot add the names of some police personnel in the FIR as they have been awarded as encounter specialists by the DIG and are about to be promoted. They said that police will do the needful but cannot name them in FIR,” she alleged.

During the press meet, Bath broke down while demanding justice for her husband and son. She accused the Punjab Police officials of subjecting them to an “unimaginable act of brutality.” “I have received calls from several politicians, but I did not pick up even one because this is not a political fight,” she said. “My husband fights for the country; this is not just my fight, but everybody’s fight.”

She urged authorities to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for an impartial inquiry and submitted a formal representation to the Deputy Commissioner of Patiala recounting the ordeal. She also accused the police of attempting to shield some of the accused officers by omitting their names from the FIR.

She also refuted claims that her husband was intoxicated at the time of the alleged assault, citing medical reports as evidence. “They cannot say that we were under the influence of alcohol as it is there in the (medical) report of a government hospital,” she asserted.

Lashing out against politicians for interfering, she revealed that multiple politicians had contacted her after public support for her case grew. “Today, when everyone was standing up with me, all the politicians started calling me, but I didn’t pick up a single call as this was not a political fight,” she said.

Despite video evidence, Bath claimed that the police delayed registering the FIR based on her husband’s statement. “For seven days, I have been moving from pillar to post,” she said, alleging that the police attempted to pressure her into a compromise.

She further slammed Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nanak Singh for failing to act promptly. “SSP Nanak Singh should also be transferred for lack of cooperation. He kept giving false hopes, delaying justice, and causing untold harassment,” she alleged.

Several senior ex-Army officers and ex-servicemen stood in solidarity with the Colonel’s family during the press conference. Bath’s wife displayed photos of her husband’s injuries and their son bleeding from the face, further intensifying demands for swift and transparent action.

The Punjab Police on Friday registered a fresh FIR against 12 police officials accused of assaulting Army Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son over a parking dispute. A high-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been constituted to ensure a fair and expeditious probe into the matter.

According to an official statement released on Friday evening, a case—FIR No. 69, dated March 21, 2025—has been lodged at Police Station Civil Lines, Patiala. The FIR is based on the Colonel’s statement recorded on March 14, detailing the alleged assault by police officials on the intervening night of March 13-14.

A high-level SIT has been constituted under the leadership of SPS Parmar, Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Punjab. The team also includes Sandeep Malik, Senior Superintendent of Police, Hoshiarpur, and Manpreet Singh, Superintendent of Police, Rural, SAS Nagar. They have been directed to conduct daily investigations to gather evidence and ensure legal proceedings against the accused officers.

A Punjab Police spokesperson confirmed that instructions had been issued to transfer the concerned police officials out of Patiala district to facilitate a fair probe. Additionally, all 12 implicated police officers have been suspended, with departmental proceedings for major punishment initiated against them. The Additional Director General of Police, Security, Punjab, has also been directed to provide security to Colonel Bath’s family.

The incident took place near the Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. Colonel Bath and his son were having food at a roadside eatery when police officers in civilian clothes asked him to move his car. When he objected to their tone, the officers allegedly assaulted him. The Colonel suffered a broken arm, while his son sustained a deep cut on his head.

(With inputs from agencies)