Current Events :
Politicians, ex-servicemen join dharna outside DC office; family rejects 3-member SIT
Ex-servicemen, politicians and members of several social organisations on Saturday staged a protest outside the District Administrative Complex (DAC) in Patiala against the brutal thrashing of an Army Colonel and his son by police personnel over a week ago.
They accused the police of protecting the accused through a “botched up” investigation. The officer’s family members demanded a CBI probe and the transfer of Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nanak Singh.
On Friday, the police had registered a fresh FIR in the assault case on the complaint of the Colonel and constituted a three-member special investigation team to probe the incident that took place on March 13
The statement of the Colonel names the police officials who assaulted him. The accused include Inspectors Harry Boparai, Ronnie Singh and Harjinder Dhillon and Shaminder Singh.
Earlier, the authorities had suspended 12 police officials and sent them out of district so that they could not influence the investigation.
The Army officer’s family rejected the SIT and demanded a CBI probe.
In the evening, Deputy Commissioner Preeti Yadav reached the protest site, where a memorandum was submitted to her.
The Colonel’s wife, Jaswinder Kaur, praised Yadav for standing by her.
Yadav urged those gathered at the spot to end the protest. But the protestors said the agitation would continue till their demands were met.
Jaswinder Kaur said such was the laxity in handling the case that SSP Nanak Singh “took 48 hours” to meet her husband. An e-rickshaw driver, identifying himself as Ravinder, appeared at the dharna site and claimed that he was an eyewitness and saw the Colonel being thrashed by the cops.
Congress Lok Sabha member Dharamvira Gandhi, BJP leader and former MP Preneet Kaur also condemned the Punjab Government for “delaying justice” in the assault case.
Kaur said she did not come in the capacity of a politician, rather she had come in the capacity of the wife of a former Army officer (Amarinder Singh). Preneet Kaur demanded the inclusion of senior Army members in the SIT formed to probe the attack.
Gandhi, who stayed at the protest venue till late evening, condemned the ruling government for “reducing Punjab into a police state with no scope of democratic rights and liberty of people”. Social activist Colonel JS Gill (Retd) said there was an undercurrent against the police.I believe it is high time the Punjab Police come out of their militancy-era hangover and stop acting like an armed militia. It is important to introduce police reforms. Refresher courses under the supervision of seniors and psychological tests of police officials, including IPS officers, should be conducted from time to time to ensure proper public conduct,” said Gill.
Meanwhile, Inspector Ronnie Singh’s wife Deepika came out in her husband’s defence. She said the incident should not be turned into a media trial and it should not be projected as a police versus Army event. She said she also came from the family with an Army background and their relatives had taken part in wars and even laid down their lives to protect the nation.
Major (Retd) Amardeep Singh Natt, who was an OSD of former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, on Friday said he had pressed accused police personnel to tender an unconditional apology through a video call, which was now being used as evidence…
Major (Retd) Amardeep Singh Natt, who was an OSD of former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, on Friday said he had pressed accused police personnel to tender an unconditional apology through a video call, which was now being used as evidence by the Colonel’s wife.
In a press statement, Natt said Inspectors Harry Boparai, Ronnie Singh and Harjinder Dhillon had tendered an apology on his suggestion.
Natt added that he had also pressed Shaminder Singh, whose name was not involved in the matter, to apologise to end the matter.
Natt added that since both of them belonged to uniform forces, it was suggested not to blow the matter out of proportion and settle the matter amicably.
Natt said the Army officer’s wife was his foster sister. “On March 14 and 15 she spoke to me and agreed for a meeting with the police officers on March 16,” he said.While Harry Boparai, Ronnie Singh and Harjinder Dhillon along with Shaminder Singh arrived at his house in the Lal Bagh area, she did not visit. She made a video call and asked them that she would come only after all 12 police officers turned up.
Later, she said that if the officers apologised, she would forgive them.
“But I was shocked to learn that she had recorded the video. Not only the officers, their families are in distress too. I would reiterate that this matter is related to uniform forces and should not be politicised,” he said.
Demanded immediate action against the accused and their arrest.
BJP Mahila Morcha president Jai Inder Kaur submits a memorandum to SSP Nanak Singh on Saturday. RAJESH SACHARBJP Mahila Morcha president Jai Inder Kaur submits a memorandum to SSP Nanak Singh on Saturday. RAJESH SACHAR
The incident of an alleged police assault on an army colonel has draw sharp reactions, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mahila Morcha’s state unit president Jai Inder Kaur today submitting a memorandum to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Patiala, Dr. Nanak Singh, demanding immediate action against the accused and their arrest.
Speaking to the media after the protest, Kaur said, “This is a highly condemnable incident. If an Army officer is not safe in Punjab, then what about the common people? Law and order in Punjab have completely collapsed.”
Targeting the Punjab government, Jai Inder Kaur said, “The 12 police officers are being protected by the Punjab government. Despite all the evidence against them, instead of taking strict action, the government is falsely harassing Colonel Bath and his family.”
She also raised concerns about the SIT formed by the Punjab Police for the case, saying, “There was no need for an SIT in this case. The CCTV footage clearly shows how the police officers brutally assaulted them. This SIT is just a cover-up attempt by the Punjab government and police to suppress the case.”
Continuing her remarks, she added, “My father, Captain Amarinder Singh, also served in the Army. Until Colonel Bath and his family get justice, we will stand shoulder to shoulder with them. I also urge Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to immediately dismiss these 12 police officers so that justice can be served to the Army officer who dedicates his life to the nation.”
After submitting the memorandum, Kaur stated that SSP Dr Nanak Singh assured them that appropriate action would soon be taken
TIME TO HUMANISE POLICE FORCE FROM BUTCHARY APPROACH DUE TO POLITICIAN
ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸੂਬੇ ਦੇ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਰਾਜ ਵਿੱਚ ਤਬਦੀਲ ਹੋਣ ਅਤੇ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਦੇ ਵਹਿਸ਼ੀ ਕਾਰਨਾਮਿਆਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ ਦੇ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਪ੍ਰੋ. ਹਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਭੱਟੀ ਦਾ ਸਟੀਕ ਵਿਸ਼ਲੇਸ਼ਣ
ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ’ਚ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਦੇ ਮੁਲਾਜ਼ਮਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਸੈਨਾ ਦੇ ਇੱਕ ਕਰਨਲ ਦੀ ਕੁੱਟਮਾਰ, ਦਾ ਮਾਮਲਾ ਗੰਭੀਰ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।
ਭਾਰਤੀ ਸੈਨਾ ਦੇ ਇੱਕ ਕਰਨਲ ਦੀ ਪਤਨੀ ਬੀਬੀ ਜਸਵਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ ਬਾਠ ਲਗਾਤਾਰ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ ਕਰਦੀ ਦਿਖਾਈ ਦੇ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ਉਹ ਸੂਬੇ ਦੇ ਰਾਜਪਾਲ ਗੁਲਾਬ ਚੰਦ ਅਤੇ ਮੀਡੀਆ ਨੂੰ ਰੂ ਬਰੂ ਹੋ ਰਹੇ ਨੇ। ਸਵਾਲ ਇਹ ਉਠਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜੇਕਰ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਸੈਨਾ ਦੇ ਇੱਕ ਕਰਨਲ ਦਾ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਇਨਸਾਫ਼ ਲਈ ਸੜਕਾਂ ’ਤੇ ਨਿੱਕਲਣ ਲਈ ਮਜ਼ਬੂਰ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਆਮ ਬੰਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਕੀ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ।
ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਵੀ ਕਈ ਘਟਨਾਵਾਂ ਵਾਰਪੀਆਂ ਸਨ ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ ’ਚ ਇੱਕ ਫੌਜੀ ਅਫ਼ਸਰ ’ਤੇ ਤਸ਼ੱਦਦ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ ਤ ਸੁਮੇਧ ਸੈਣੀ ਨੂੰ ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ ਦੇ ਐਸ.ਐਸ.ਪੀ. ਵਜੋਂ ਤਬਦੀਲ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਾ ਸੀ। ਅਤਿਵਾਦ ਵੇਲੇ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹੇ ਦੇ ਪਿੰਡ ਭੈਣੀ ਬਾਸਰਕੇ ਦੇ ਵਾਸੀ ਬਲਦੇਵ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੋ ਕਿ 5 ਸਿੱਖ ਰੈਜੀਮੈਂਟ ਦਾ ਸਿਪਾਹੀ ਸੀ ਨੂੰ ਝੂਠੇ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਮੁਕਾਬਲੇ ’ਚ ਮਾਰਨ ਦੇ ਦੋਸ਼ ਲੱਗੇ ਸਨ। ਪਾਉਂਟਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ’ਚ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਨੇ ਇੱਕ ਫੌਜੀ ਅਫ਼ਸਰ ’ਤੇ ਤਸ਼ੱਦਦ ਕੀਤਾ ਤੇ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਜਾਂ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ ਕੋਈ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਨਾ ਕੀਤੀ ਤਾਂ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਨੂੰ ਕੁਟਾਪਾ ਚਾੜ੍ਹ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਸੀ। ਦਿੱਲੀ ’ਚ ਵਕੀਲ ਹੀ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਨੂੰ ਪੈ ਨਿੱਕਲੇ ਸਨ।
ਇੱਕ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਜਦੋਂ ਕਦੇ ਤਤਕਾਲੀ ਡੀ.ਜੀ.ਪੀ. ਕੇ.ਪੀ.ਐਸ. ਗਿੱਲ ਕੋਲ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਦੇ ਜ਼ੁਲਮ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਕਰਦੇ ਤਾਂ ਗਿੱਲ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਦਲੀਲ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਜੋ ਅਫ਼ਸਰ ਲੜਾਈ ਲੜ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਭਾਵ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਬੇਕਸੂਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਲੁੱਟ ਮਾਰ ਤੇ ਤਸ਼ੱਦਦ ਵੀ ਮੁਆਫ਼। ਇਹੀ ਹਾਲ ਇਸ ਵੇਲੇ ਬਣਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ। ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਦੇ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ ਕਰਨਲ ਦੀ ਕੁੱਟਮਾਰ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਚਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਗਿੱਲ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਦਲੀਲਾਂ ਦੇ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ।
ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਦੇ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਅਫ਼ਸਰਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਗੁਨਾਹਾਂ ’ਤੇ ਪਰਦਾ ਪਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਦਾ ਮਨੋਬਲ ਕਾਇਮ ਰੱਖਣ ਦੀਆਂ ਦਲੀਲਾਂ ਦਾ ਸਹਾਰਾ ਲਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਅੱਜ ਤੱਕ ਸਮਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਆ ਸਕਿਆ ਕਿ ਖਾਕੀ ਵਰਦੀ ’ਚ ਹਥਿਆਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਲੈਸ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਗੰਨਮੈਨਾਂ ’ਚ ਘਿਰੇ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਅਫ਼ਸਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਮਨੋਬਲ ਕਿਉਂ ਡਿਗਦਾ ਹੈ ਖਾਸ ਕਰ ਜਦੋਂ ਕੋਈ ਅਪਰਾਧਿਕ ਮਾਮਲੇ ’ਚ ਘਿਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਈ ਉਦਾਹਰਾਨਾਂ ਹਨ ਜਦੋਂ ਇੱਕ ਅਫ਼ਸਰ ’ਤੇ ਨਸ਼ਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਤਸਕਰੀ ਦੇ ਦੋਸ਼ ਲਗਦੇ ਹਨ ਤਦ ਵੀ ਮਨੋਬਲ ਉਚਾ ਰੱਖਣ ਲਈ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਸੀ ਤੇ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਦੇ ਭ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਟਾਚਾਰ ’ਤੇ ਤਾਂ ਅਕਸਰ ਪਰਦੇ ਪਾਏ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।
The police on Friday registered a fresh FIR in the assault case of an Army Colonel and his son, and constituted a three-member special investigation team to probe the incident that took place on March 13 night. The FIR was…
The police on Friday registered a fresh FIR in the assault case of an Army Colonel and his son, and constituted a three-member special investigation team to probe the incident that took place on March 13 night.
The FIR was lodged on the complaint of Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath that was recorded a day after the incident. Earlier, the police had lodged a case on the complaint of his wife. It did not mention the accused’s name.
The statement of the Colonel names the police officials who assaulted him. The Army officer was allegedly thrashed by 12 police personnel over a parking dispute.
The SIT constituted by the state police will be headed by SPS Parmar, Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order.
It includes Sandeep Malik, Senior Superintendent of Police, Hoshiarpur; and Manpreet Singh, Superintendent of Police, SAS Nagar (Rural).
The SIT has been directed to conduct the investigation on a day-to-day basis. A Punjab Police spokesperson said the DIG, Patiala Range, had been asked to immediately transfer the accused police officers out Patiala so that investigation can be conducted in a fair manner.
The spokesperson further added that all accused had been suspended and departmental proceedings for a major punishment been initiated against them. The Additional Director General of Police, Security, has been directed to provide adequate protection to the family of Colonel Bath.
Family seeks CBI investigation
Colonel’s wife Jaswinder Kaur Bath made public a video showing four police inspectors admitting responsibility for the attack and seeking forgiveness for it
Speaking to the media here, she accused Punjab Police officials of intimidation and cover-up attempts and demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the incident.
“They apologised in the presence of the SSP but when I refused to compromise after the brutal beating of my husband and son, they resorted to threats,” she alleged.
