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Family members of Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath on Monday met Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann demanding the transfer of Patiala SSP Nanak Singh and a CBI probe into the assault on the Army officer and his son by police personnel. The…
Family members of Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath on Monday met Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann demanding the transfer of Patiala SSP Nanak Singh and a CBI probe into the assault on the Army officer and his son by police personnel.
The meeting came a day after the family met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi over the issue while rejecting the probe by a three-member special investigation team constituted by the state police.
Meanwhile, the SIT visited Patiala to investigate the incident that had allegedly taken place on March 13 over a parking dispute.
After the meeting held at the CM’s official residence in Chandigarh, the family said Mann assured them action in the case by evening.
“We will wait for the outcome of the meeting as the CM told us that he will be meeting a battery of senior officers from Punjab and take strict action,” said Jaswinder Kaur Bath, the wife of the Army officer.
The family members were accompanied by Patiala BJP leader Gurtej Singh Dhillon, who is also a relative of the Army officer. Colonel Pushpinder Bath, currently posted at the Army headquarters in New Delhi, underwent treatment at a Military Hospital with multiple injuries.
The accused 12 police officers were suspended following the incident.
Jaswinder Kaur said the CM met them for about an hour. “He told me that I was Punjab’s daughter and such an incident should not have happened to anybody. The CM said he called a meeting of senior officers and a decision would be taken by 6 pm,” she claimed.
However, talking to The Tribune late evening, Jaswinder Kaur said though the Chief Minister assured of strict action, they were “yet to hear anything from his office and it is already 8 pm”.
“We are firm on our stand for an independent probe into the whole incident by the CBI and shifting of Patiala SSP Nanak Singh. I am hopeful that justice will prevail. Our fight for what is right will continue,” she said.
Meanwhile, the SIT headed by Additional DGP AS Rai visited the alleged spot of crime and said the CCTV footage of the incident had been sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory of the Union government.
Rai told reporters at the Circuit House in Patiala that the SIT would investigate the entire case in a fact-based manner “without any bias”.
“If anyone has any video, any other evidence related to this case or has any other information, then they can meet the SIT at the Circuit House Patiala on April 2 from 11 am to 2 pm,” he said, adding that people can contact SIT member DSP Dalbir Singh Sidhu on 75083-00342.
The Assam Government has extended the application of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in three districts of the state for six more months following a review of the law and order situation. The government, however, withdrew the…
The Assam Government has extended the application of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in three districts of the state for six more months following a review of the law and order situation. The government, however, withdrew the controversial law from Dibrugarh district as the situation “improved” there.
Home and Political Department Secretary Debaprasad Misra, in an order on Sunday, stated that the four districts were kept under the purview of AFSPA since October 8 last year after withdrawing the act from the rest of the state.
“Following the receipt of reports from various security agencies, it has been observed that the overall security situation in Assam has significantly improved, particularly over the last three-and-a-half years, due to the sustained efforts and proactive counter-insurgency measures by the Assam Police and security forces,” it added.
In light of these improvements, the Government of Assam believes that the “disturbed area” status under the AFSPA need not be extended in Dibrugarh district beyond March 31, 2025, the order stated.
“Despite these improvements, there have been sporadic incidents of IEDs being planted by ULFA (I), the only militant group active in the state, in various districts, alongside their involvement in kidnapping for ransom to fund their activities,” Misra said in the notification.
The Congress on Monday called Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as the “foot soldier” of the BJP’s troll army, a day after the CM in a sharp remark said party leader Rahul Gandhi has been forced to become a leader…
The Congress on Monday called Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as the “foot soldier” of the BJP’s troll army, a day after the CM in a sharp remark said party leader Rahul Gandhi has been forced to become a leader despite lacking the quality for it.
The CM had made the remark in an interview to a private news channel in New Delhi when asked about Gandhi, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, reminded Mann of Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra during which he travelled from Kanyakumari to Kashmir on foot.
“Rahul Gandhi walked 4,080 km in Bharat Jodo Yatra to unite India and fight for the poor and minorities while Punjab drowned in drugs and despair under your #6pmNoCM watch-unfulfilled promises and skipped Budget Sessions. @RahulGandhi robustly defends the constitution in Parliament; you hide from questions, echoing @BJP4India lines,” Bajwa said.
Bajwa said Mann has “enrolled himself in the BJPs troll army as another foot soldier who takes orders from Union Home Minister Amit Shah”.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said the Punjab Chief Minister seems to have “volunteered himself for going an extra mile to appease the BJP”.
Former Punjab Congress president Shamsher Singh Dullo said Mann was himself “an accidental CM” and should respect the sacrifice made by the Gandhi family for the country.
Move reflects public sentiment, Indian culture, says CM Dhami
Amid the ongoing controversy over Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Maharashtra, the BJP-led Uttarakhand government on Monday renamed 17 locations across four districts, removing all Mughal-era references.
At least 10 places which have undergone a name change are located in Haridwar district, four in Dehradun, two in Nainital and one in Udham Singh Nagar.
Aurangzebpur in Haridwar has been renamed Shivaji Nagar, Ghaziwali as Arya Nagar, Khanpur as Shri Krishnapur and Khanpur Kursali as Ambedkar Nagar.
Likewise, Miyawala in Dehradun will now be called Ramjiwala, Chandpur Khurd as Prithviraj Nagar, Nawabi Road in Nainital has a new name Atal Road and Panchukki Marg has been renamed Guru Golwalkar Marg after the second RSS chief.
The BJP officially lauded the state government for changing the names as part of the campaign to eradicate “the last vestiges of slavery”.
“Uttarakhand has announced the renaming of several locations across Haridwar, Dehradun, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar districts. The new names reflect public sentiment and uphold India’s cultural and historical heritage. This initiative seeks to honour great personalities who have played a significant role in preserving Indian culture, inspiring future generations,” BJP leader Amit Malviya said on X.
A report in The New York Times linking a company that is part of a British aerospace major to public sector Indian defence company Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and claiming that the latter has ties with a Russian arms agency…
A report in The New York Times linking a company that is part of a British aerospace major to public sector Indian defence company Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and claiming that the latter has ties with a Russian arms agency is “factually incorrect” and “misleading”, official sources said on Monday.
The newspaper report suggested that military hardware supplied by the British firm to the Indian company may have found its way to the Russian agency, Rosoboronexport.
The report has “tried to frame issues and distort facts to suit a political narrative”, the sources said, adding that the media outlet “overlooked” basic due diligence.
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“The Indian entity mentioned in the report has scrupulously followed all its international obligations on strategic trade controls and end-user commitments,” said the sources. “India’s robust legal and regulatory framework on strategic trade continues to guide overseas commercial ventures by its companies,” they said.
‘Supplied’ UK firm gear to Moscow agency
The newspaper report suggested that military hardware supplied by the British firm to the Indian company may have found its way to Russian agency Rosoboronexport
Citing “documents”, it claimed that one of the biggest corporate donors to the populist Reform UK party had sold almost $2 million worth of transmitters, cockpit equipment, antennas and other sensitive technology to a major supplier of Moscow’s blacklisted state weapons agency
“We expect reputed media outlets to undertake basic due diligence while publishing such reports, which obviously was overlooked in the instant case,” the sources said.
The New York Times report, citing “documents”, claimed that one of the biggest corporate donors to the populist Reform UK party had sold almost $2 million worth of transmitters, cockpit equipment, antennas and other sensitive technology to a major supplier of Moscow’s blacklisted state weapons agency.
During 2023-24, the company, part of the British firm HR Smith Group, shipped the equipment to an Indian firm that is the biggest trading partner of the Russian arms agency, the report claimed.
The records do not prove that HR Smith’s products ended up in Russia. However, they show that, in some instances, the Indian company received equipment from HR Smith and, within days, sent parts to Russia with the same identifying product codes,” the report said.
The HR Smith Group said its sales were lawful and the equipment was destined for an Indian search-and-rescue network. The parts “support lifesaving operations” and are “not designed for military use”, it quoted a company lawyer as saying.
Army officer’s wife says the family will meet Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on Monday to discuss the case
Two days after the Punjab and Haryana High Court questioned the state government over delay in registering an FIR in the Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath assault case, the Army officer and his family met with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday to discuss the developments in the case.
The family was informed about the meeting two days ago, and it was scheduled for Sunday. A former officer was tasked with notifying the family about the meeting.
After the meeting, Jaswinder Kaur, Col Bath’s wife, reiterated her stance, emphasising that she does not trust the Patiala police and calling for the case to be investigated by an independent agency.
“We will meet Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann tomorrow and see what he says. We have informed Rajnath Singh about the harassment we have faced,” she said.
In addition to the Bath couple, their relative and BJP leader from Patiala, Gurtej Singh Dhillon, accompanied the family to the meeting, which lasted approximately 25 minutes.
Dhillon said the Defence Minister has assured the family that they are closely monitoring the case. “He has assured us that the Army will stand by the officer and ensure justice for Col Bath and his family,” he told the Tribune.
On Friday, Punjab’s attempt to justify the delay in FIR registration in the assault case by citing farmers’ protests—among other reasons—backfired in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The Bench questioned the police about the number of FIRs registered across Patiala district during the period.
The Bench asked the State to categorically explain whether the action taken so far was sufficient.
“You are not obliging anyone by placing the cops under suspension,” the Bench had asserted.
In his detailed order, Justice Sandeep Moudgil also asked the State to file an affidavit specifying: “How many FIRs were registered in Patiala district during the period when the district police was on high alert on account of farmers’ protests at Khanauri border and Shambhu border of Patiala from March 18 to 23?
There have been protests and demands for the complete withdrawal of the law from the Northeast as well as Jammu and Kashmir
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), which gives armed forces operating in disturbed areas sweeping powers and immunity from prosecution unless approved by the Centre, was on Sunday extended for six months in entire Manipur, except the jurisdictions of 13 police stations, in view of the law and order situation there.
The AFSPA, under which a particular state or some areas are declared “disturbed”, has also been extended to eight districts in Nagaland and 21 police station areas in five other districts of the state for six months, according to a notification issued by the Union Home Ministry.
The law was also extended to Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and three police station areas in Namsai district in the state for six months beginning April 1 after a review of the law and order situation in these northeastern states.
The AFSPA, often criticised as a draconian law, gives armed forces operating in disturbed areas sweeping powers to search, arrest and open fire if they deem it necessary.
“Whereas the central government after review of the law and order situation in the state of Manipur, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (28 of 1958) declares the entire state of Manipur, excluding the areas falling under the jurisdiction of the following 13 (thirteen) police stations of 5 districts, as ‘disturbed area’ for a period of six months with effect from 01.04.2025, unless withdrawn earlier,” the notification related to Manipur read.
The police station areas in Manipur where the AFSPA will not be in force are: Imphal, Lamphal, City, Singjamei, Patsoi, Wangoi in Imphal West district, Porompat, Heingang, Irilbung in Imphal East district, Thoubal in Thoubal district and Bishnupur and Nambol in Bishnupur district and Kakching in Kakching district.
Manipur has been under President’s rule since February 13 after Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who was heading a BJP-led government, resigned on February 9 following ethnic violence that claimed over 260 lives since May 2023.
The disturbed area declaration was in force in the entire Manipur (except the Imphal municipality area) from 2004 till early 2022.
In April 2022, the Manipur government issued a notification where it said that “disturbed area” will no longer be applicable in seven police station areas of Imphal West district, four police station areas under the Imphal East district and one police station area each in the districts of Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakching and Jiribam. There are 16 districts in Manipur.
In October 2024, the Manipur government reimposed AFSPA in the entire state, barring 19 police station areas. A month later, the AFSPA was also extended in six of the 19 police station areas after violence broke out in Jiribam district.
More than 260 people were killed and thousands left homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023.
In a separate notification, the Home Ministry said a further review of the law and order situation in Nagaland has been undertaken. After that, Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek and Peren districts in Nagaland were declared as ‘disturbed area’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for six months with effect from April 1, 2025, unless withdrawn earlier.
The areas in Nagaland declared as ‘disturbed area’ under AFSPA for six months fall “within the jurisdiction of i) Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza and Kezocha police stations in Kohima District; ii) Mangkolemba, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem and Anaki ‘C’ police stations in Mokokchung District; iii) Yanglok police station in Longleng District; iv) Bhandari, Champang and Ralan police stations in Wokha District; and v) Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto and Aghunato police stations in Zunheboto District”, according to the notification.
A third notification issued by the home ministry said a further review of the law and order situation in Arunachal Pradesh has also been undertaken.
Therefore, Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the State of Assam, are declared as ‘disturbed area’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for six months with effect from April 1, 2025, unless withdrawn earlier, it said.
There have been protests and demands for the complete withdrawal of the law from the Northeast as well as Jammu and Kashmir.
Manipuri activist Irom Chanu Sharmila fought against the law by remaining on hunger strike for 16 years, before ending it on August 9, 2016.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier said the AFSPA has been removed in 70 per cent of the areas in the northeastern states, even though it is in force in Jammu and Kashmir.
Shah had also said that the central government would consider revoking AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir.
