Punjab: 3 investigations in the case of attack on colonel, no progress

Punjab: Eleven days after Col Pushpinder Baath and his son were allegedly attacked by 12 policemen in Patiala, three investigations conducted in the past one week have not yet “progressed”. Sources said there has been no progress in the various investigations and the March 13 incident remains unresolved. Statements of Col Pushpinder Baath and Angad Baath have not been recorded. We want nothing less than a CBI probe and will now wait for our meeting with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Strict action should be taken against the police officers involved in the incident,” Col Bath’s wife Jaswinder Kaur said. While the Patiala police had ordered a departmental inquiry to probe the allegations against the 12 policemen in-depth, the home department had appointed an IAS officer to conduct the probe and submit his report within 21 days. Later, the state government constituted an SIT under an additional DGP-rank officer after a fresh FIR was lodged based on Col Bath’s statement. On March 17, Patiala SSP Nanak Singh suspended 12 policemen, including three inspectors, and ordered a departmental inquiry against them.
The action was taken following an altercation in which they allegedly “kicked, punched and brutally beat up” the colonel and his son. The SSP had assured that the probe would be completed within 45 days. SP (headquarters) Harwant Kaur said a show-cause notice has been issued to the accused policemen and statements of all concerned would be recorded soon. On March 20, the Punjab government suspended an IAS The officer initiated a time-bound inquiry to be completed within 21 days. The administrative secretary of home affairs ordered an inquiry to be completed within three weeks, led by IAS officer Paramvir Singh. “We have issued summons to the concerned and their statements will be recorded soon,” Paramvir said. Jaswinder announced to hold a sit-in protest demanding a CBI probe into the incident, following which the state government ordered an SIT-level probe on March 21 and lodged a fresh FIR. The Patiala police registered a case against three inspectors under sections 109, 310, 155(2), 117(2), 126(2) and 351(2) of the BNS. The name of the fourth inspector has also been added in the FIR under sections 299 and 191 of the BNS. The SIT comprises ADGP (Law and Order) SPS Parmar, Hoshiarpur SSP Sandeep Malik and Mohali (rural) SP Manpreet Singh.