Patiala parking row: 12 Punjab police personnel suspended for assaulting Army colonel, son

The father-son duo were hospitalised after the incident and are currently receiving treatment.

After the wife of serving Indian Army Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath alleged that her husband and son Angad Singh were beaten by cops in Patiala, 12 Punjab Police personnel, including three inspectors, were placed under suspension on Monday.

A departmental inquiry was also ordered against these1 2 police personnel between the ranks of inspector and constable for assaulting a serving Army officer and his son on the intervening night of March 13 and 14.

“We apologise for the incident involving the Army officer and extend our full respect to him. We have the highest respect for Army personnel,” said SSP Dr Nanak Singh while addressing the media on Monday,

He added that at the time of the incident, neither the Colonel nor the police personnel were in uniform.

The incident took place outside a roadside eatery and was caught on CCTV. The argument reportedly began when the police personnel asked Colonel Pushpinder Bath, currently posted at the Army Headquarters in Delhi, to move his vehicle. The argument escalated when the officer objected to their tone. The police personnel then allegedly kicked and punched Colonel Bath.

According to Jaswinder Batth, the Colonel’s wife, the family was eating outside their car when several Punjab Police officers, including three identified as Inspectors Harjinder Dhillon, Harry Boparai, and Rauni Singh, demanded they move their vehicle to accommodate the police officials’ car. When the Colonel objected to their language, a physical altercation ensued.

According to Indian Express, the headquarters of the Western Command and that of the 1 Armoured Division in Patiala are learnt to have taken up the issue of the attack on the Colonel with the Punjab government and police.

“There was an altercation and scuffle between an Army officer on leave in Patiala and policemen post midnight March 13- 14. Issue is being handled with due alacrity both at state government and Local level by the Command HQs and lower formations. FIR has been lodged. Strict action against errant policemen assured by Police authorities soonest along with a time-bound inquiry,” read a statement issued by the Western Command HQs.

The father-son duo were hospitalised after the incident and are currently receiving treatment.