Monday | Mar 31 2025 | 05:09:52 AM
New Delhi, March 26
The Indian Army and Punjab Police jointly held a press conference in Chandigarh in connection with the alleged assault case of Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son Angad Singh Bath. 12 police personnel of Punjab Police allegedly assaulted the officer and his son.
Col Bath accused 12 Punjab Police personnel of brutally assaulting him and his son over a parking dispute on the intervening night of March 13-14 in Patiala. On Monday, he filed a plea in the Punjab and Haryana high court seeking the transfer of the probe to the CBI or another independent agency.
While speaking to media, Lt Gen Mohit Wadhwa, chief of staff, army’s Western Command headquarters Chandimandir, said, "We reiterate the need for a fair and honest investigation in a transparent and a time-bound manner to punish the guilty and restore the faith in the system.
Lt Gen Wadhwa said the guilty police personnel should be punished in a timely and exemplary manner so that the incident does not vitiate the atmosphere and affect the long cherished bonhomie between the civil administration and Punjab Police with the serving and retired army personnel.
DGP Punjab, Gaurav Yadav said the Punjab Police reiterates its highest respect to the army and is committed to maintaining and upholding the dignity of the army officers. He termed “the unfortunate incident of assault on a serving army officer” an “aberration” which, he said, will be dealt in accordance with law.
The DGP also talked about various steps taken by Punjab Police after the incident which includes setting up of a high-level special investigation team headed by a senior Punjab Police officer. “A high-level SIT has been constituted for conducting investigations fairly and expeditiously. The SIT has been directed to investigate on a day-to-day basis for the collection of evidence and further legal proceedings to ensure that the culprits are proceeded according to law,” he added.
All 12 personnel have been placed under suspension and departmental proceedings for major punishment have been initiated against them, DGP further stated.
The army was informed about the incident on March 15 afternoon and since then this issue has been addressed with due alacrity both at the state and at the district levels. The officer was shifted from the civil hospital to the military hospital, he thereafter underwent treatment at Chandimandir at the Command hospital and is presently recuperating from his injuries, the Lt Gen said.
