Patiala: In a shocking incident, a serving Indian Army Colonel and his son were allegedly assaulted by three Punjab Police inspectors in Patiala during the early hours of March 14. The brutal attack, which was caught on CCTV, reportedly left the Army officer with a fractured arm and his son with severe head injuries.
The victim, Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath, is currently posted at the Army headquarters in New Delhi. Both he and his son are undergoing treatment at Rajendra Hospital in Patiala. The incident occurred outside a roadside eatery near the hospital, where the Colonel and his son had stopped for refreshments.
Shocking Allegations of Assault
Detailing the horrifying ordeal, Col Bath’s son alleged that the police officers beat them mercilessly for 45 minutes.
“They asked us to remove our car, and when my father objected to their language, one of the officers punched him. When I tried to step in, they attacked me as well. They beat us with sticks, rods, and baseball bats. My father and I fainted, and when we woke up, they were still beating us. We were assaulted for at least 45 minutes,” he said.
Disgraceful behavior by @PunjabPoliceInd!
— Balbir Singh Sidhu (@BalbirSinghMLA) March 17, 2025
A serving Army Colonel was brutally assaulted by Patiala Police officers, yet no proper action has been taken despite CCTV evidence. pic.twitter.com/UIsuXAgm5a
According to the Colonel’s family, three police personnel in civilian clothes approached them and demanded that the Army officer remove his car so they could park their vehicle. When Col Bath objected to their tone, they allegedly turned violent and started beating the officer and his son.
FIR Filed, But Punjab Police Accused of Shielding Officers
Despite the shocking nature of the attack, the Punjab Police has only registered an FIR against unidentified individuals, sparking outrage and allegations of a cover-up. Col Bath’s wife has accused the Punjab Police of shielding their officers, demanding strict action against those responsible.
Conflicting Police Narrative
According to a report by The Tribune, the police personnel involved in the incident were on their way to Rajendra Hospital after an encounter with kidnappers, during which a 7-year-old child was rescued and a kidnapper was shot dead. One of the accused police personnel claimed that Col Bath had started the altercation.
Senior Army Officials Step In
The incident has raised serious concerns about police brutality and the treatment of armed forces personnel. Senior Army officials have visited Rajendra Hospital to check on Col Bath and his son, indicating that the matter has reached high levels of military leadership.
