Three Patiala Police officials allegedly assaulted a senior Army officer and his son in Patiala for 45 minutes, leaving the officer with a fractured arm and his son with head injuries.

In Short

• Senior Army officer and son assaulted by Punjab Police in Patiala
• Officer suffered fractured arm; son suffered head injuries
• Family alleges police not registering case, trying to shield accused

In the early hours of March 14, a senior Army officer, Pushpinder Singh Bath, and his son, Angad SIngh, were allegedly assaulted by three Punjab Police inspectors in Patiala for around 45 minutes. The attack left the officer with a fractured arm, while his son suffered head injuries. Both are currently undergoing treatment at Rajendra Hospital in Patiala. Following the family’s repeated complaints, a total of 12 police officials were suspendeD

A viral video shows Punjab Police personnel allegedly thrashing an Indian Army Colonel and his son over a parking dispute in Patiala. The shocking incident, which took place outside a Patiala eatery on March 13, has led to the suspension of 12 police officers.

An Indian Army officer of Colonel rank and his son were allegedly brutally thrashed by Punjab Police personnel over a parking dispute in Patiala district last week.

What happened?

The incident occurred on March 13 outside a roadside eatery near Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala and was caught on CCTV.

The video of the incident has since gone viral on social media platforms.

The altercation reportedly began when police personnel, dressed in civilian clothes, asked Colonel Bath to move his vehicle, leading to a heated exchange between them.

The situation quickly escalated, resulting in the policemen allegedly kicking and punching Colonel Bath and using baseball bats to thrash him and his son.

The victim has been identified as Colonel Pushpinder Bath, currently posted at the Indian Army Headquarters in New Delhi.

The Colonel’s wife claimed that the police personnel attacked her husband and son with baseball bats and sharp-edged weapons in Patiala.

The Patiala senior superintendent of police (SSP) Monday suspended 12 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.

There had been widespread uproar among serving and retired defence fraternity after CCTV footage of the thrashing meted out to the Army officer and his son went viral on social media. Initially, the Patiala police appeared to be protecting its personnel as the FIR was registered against unknown persons even though the complainant had named three inspectors posted.

Addressing the media in Patiala on Monday, SSP Dr Nanak Singh said a departmental inquiry was ordered against all suspended officers and the probe would be completed within 45 days. “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. He added that at the time of the incident, neither the Colonel nor the police personnel were in uniform.

Meanwhile, 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.

A statement issued by the Western Command HQs said, “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.”

“The officer was shifted to Military Hospital (MH) and all possible help is being extended. Local civilian administration and Police authorities have also met the officer in hospital to give necessary assurances.”

On the night of March 13-14, 2025, Colonel Pushpinder Singh Batth, a serving Indian Army officer currently posted at the Army Headquarters in New Delhi, and his son were assaulted in Patiala, Punjab, over a car parking dispute. The incident occurred near a dhaba close to Rajindra Hospital.

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.

Jaswinder Baath claimed that the officers and their team attacked her husband and son with baseball bats and sharp-edged weapons, resulting in severe injuries: the Colonel suffered a broken arm, and his son sustained a deep cut on his head. Both were hospitalised and are receiving treatment. She further alleged that despite repeated requests, the authorities delayed recording the victims’ statements, and no FIR was initially filed.

The argument reportedly began when the police personnel, in civilian clothes, asked the Army Colonel to move his vehicle.

Patiala:

An Army officer and his son have been allegedly thrashed by cops over a parking dispute in Punjab’s Patiala. The incident occurred on March 13 outside a roadside eatery and was caught on CCTV.

The argument reportedly began when the police personnel, in civilian clothes, 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. 

The cops also assaulted his son when he tried to intervene.

The police personnel also reportedly used baseball bats to assault them.

PATIALA: Twelve police officers in Patiala have been suspended for allegedly assaulting an Army official and his son. Furthermore, the SSP of Patiala has launched a departmental inquiry into the matter, assuring to complete it within 45 days.
Colonel Pushpinder Bath, posted at Army headquarters in New Delhi and currently on deputation at RAW, alleged that on March 13 night, he and his son were at a roadside dhaba near Rajindra Hospital in Patiala when some cops assaulted them over a car parking issue.
Both are currently undergoing treatment at the Military Hospital in Patiala. The cops, however, blamed the Army official and his son for attacking them instead. The cops were in civil dress at the time of the incident.
As a disciplinary action, Patiala SSP Nanak Singh suspended the 12 cops, including three inspectors, and initiated a departmental inquiry against them. The SSP said although, according to rules, such an inquiry must be completed within six months, in this sensitive case, he assured, the probe would be completed within 45 days.

he assured that a fair investigation would be carried out, with statements from both parties being recorded and probed. The cops, as well as the colonel, have given their statements regarding the matter.
Jaswinder Bath, the wife of Col Pushpinder Bath, while addressing a press conference in Patiala along with BJP leader Gurtej Singh Dhillon, alleged that her husband and their son were having food while standing outside their car at a dhaba near Rajindra Hospital on the night of March 13.
A few police officers approached the colonel and asked him to move his car so they could park theirs. She claimed that the cops assaulted Col Bath and his son after they objected to the tone of the cops.

Patiala SSP apologises, says a departmental probe has been initiated against 12 cops and a report will be submitted in 45 days

After public outrage, 12 Punjab Police personnel, including three inspectors, were placed under suspension on Monday and a departmental inquiry was ordered against them for thrashing an army colonel and his son over a parking dispute here on Saturday.

The suspended police officials are in the rank of inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, head constables and constables. “All 12 cops involved in the incident have been suspended with immediate effect. A departmental inquiry has also been initiated and will be completed within 45 days,” said Patiala senior superintendent of police Nanak Singh. Among the suspended cops are inspectors Harry Boparai, Ronnie Singh and Harjinder Dhillon.

Terming it as a sad incident, the SSP said, “We deeply regret it, and we seek an apology for the same.” “Both the parties have issued their statements. We will also involve independent witnesses in the matter,” the SSP added.

Colonel Bath, while talking to HT, said: “My Son Angad had come to Patiala from Delhi. He reached at 12.15 am and we decided to have ‘maggi’ at a roadside dhabha. “We were standing standing near our car and having food, when some police officials, who were in civil dress, reached the spot and asked me to remove my vehicle while using abusive language. “When I objected to their language, one of them punched me. Later, all the police personnel thrashed me and my son who tried to intervene. They even took my government ID card and mobile phone,” added Col Bath.

Jaswinder Bath, wife of Col Bath, said her husband and son were beaten using baseball bats and sharp-edged weapons, because of which the colonel’s arm was broken, and her son suffered a long cut on his head.

Col Bath, who is posted at the army headquarters in New Delhi, said: “The police did not name the personnel as accused in the case initially. Moreover, the FIR was registered only after senior army officers intervened.”

A CCTV footage of the incident was also shared on social media and drew public outrage with retired army officers condemning the incident and demanding strict action against the police personnel.

Lt Gen KJS Dhillon (Retd) demanded a strict action against the accused cops. He took on X and said, “This is the most atrocious & disgusting behaviour by Punjab Police towards a serving officer of the @adgpi & his son I hope @CMOPbIndia @DGPPunjabPolice take immediate action Jai Hind”

Senior Congress leader and leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa also slammed the Punjab government over the incident. “A serving Army Colonel and his son were brutally thrashed by officials of Patiala Police. This is the state of law and order in Punjab under AAP Govt. If a high ranking army officer is not safe we can very well imagine the plight of a common man,” Bajwa wrote on X.

In a major embarrassment for the Patiala police, its 12 personnel, including three inspectors, were on Monday suspended and a departmental probe was ordered against them in connection with a brawl in which they allegedly “kicked, punched and brutally assaulted”…

Aman Sood Tribune News Service

12 Patiala cops suspended for thrashing Colonel, son

In a major embarrassment for the Patiala police, its 12 personnel, including three inspectors, were on Monday suspended and a departmental probe was ordered against them in connection with a brawl in which they allegedly “kicked, punched and brutally assaulted”…

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, Updated At : 06:50 AM Mar 18, 2025 IST

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BJP leader Gurtej Singh Dhillon with family members of Army officer Pushpinder Bath in Patiala on Monday. Trubune Photo: Rajesh Sachar

In a major embarrassment for the Patiala police, its 12 personnel, including three inspectors, were on Monday suspended and a departmental probe was ordered against them in connection with a brawl in which they allegedly “kicked, punched and brutally assaulted” a Colonel and his son. Four days after the incident, the Patiala police apologised to the Army and assured “strict action against the erring cops”.

Senior police officials said those suspended were inspectors Harry Boparai, Ronnie Singh and Harjinder Dhillon, besides nine other cops and gunmen attached with the three. The development comes two days after the Patiala police registered an FIR against unidentified men for a brawl near Rajindra Hospital, after an Army officer was allegedly assaulted on March 13 night.

Patiala SSP Nanak Singh told The Tribune that 12 policemen had been suspended with immediate effect. He apologised for the incident saying the police had high regards for the Army. “We will not spare anyone. A fair investigation will be conducted and a probe report prepared within 45 days,” he said.

Colonel Pushpinder Bath, currently posted at the Army headquarters in New Delhi, alleged that he was assaulted on March 13 night. He and his son are under treatment at the Military Hospital after being attacked by policemen “posted in Patiala”.

“It was a brutal attack in which my father suffered a fracture in the left arm along with many other injuries inflicted with blunt weapons. I also suffered multiple injuries as over 10 cops pounced upon me after I tried to save my father from the accused,” alleged Angad Singh.

“One of the policemen said he was just back after an encounter in a kidnapping case. He threatened me with another encounter if the matter is pursued further,” he claimed.

Addressing a press conference in Patiala, Jaswinder Bath, wife of Col Pushpinder Bath, claimed her husband, along with their son, were present at a dhaba near Rajindra Hospital. She said while they were standing outside their car and having food, the cops reached there and asked the Colonel to remove his car as they had to park their car there.

“When my husband objected to their tone, one of them punched him. Later, the police personnel beat up my husband and son, leaving them severely injured,” alleged Jaswinder.

One of the suspended policemen, however, claimed that it was the Colonel and his son who attacked them first. “They were having drinks in the open. When confronted, they attacked us,” he said.

Dhaba owner Karan, who claims he was present at the spot, said the colonel and his son had ordered food and they started taking drinks with glasses kept on the car. “Two other vehicles arrived there later. Both factions were in civvies and they had a scuffle over the parked car,” he said.

The Punjab State Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the case and sought a report.

Issues new warning

President Donald Trump said he ordered a series of airstrikes on the Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Saturday, promising to use “overwhelming lethal force” until Iranian-backed Houthi rebels cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor. The Houthis said at least 18 civilians were killed.

“Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defences to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,” Trump said in a social media post. “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.”

He also warned Iran to stop supporting the rebel group, promising to hold the country “fully accountable” for the actions of its proxy. It comes two weeks after the US leader sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a path to restarting bilateral talks between the countries on Iran’s advancing nuclear weapons programme. Trump has said he will not allow it to become operational.

The Houthis reported explosions in their territory on Saturday evening, in the capital of Sanaa and the northern province of Saada, the rebels’ stronghold on the border with Saudi Arabia, with more airstrikes reported in those areas early on Sunday. Images online showed plumes of black smoke over the area of the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility. The Houthis also reported airstrikes early on Sunday on the provinces of Hodeida, Bayda and Marib.

At least 18 people were killed, 13 in Sanaa and five in Saada, according to the Houthi-run health ministry. At least 24 others were wounded, including nine in Sanaa and 15 in Saada, it said.

A US official said this was the beginning of airstrikes on Houthi targets that are expected to continue. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the press.