The alleged thrashing of Col Pushpinder Bath and his son by Punjab cops in Patiala has escalated into a major controversy, attracting reactions from armed forces, political parties and even farmers, leaving the Mann-led government in the state under mounting pressure. A report by Pawan Kumar Bansal
A brutal beating of serving army officer Col Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son by Patiala Police has put Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Maan in a spot. Jaswinder Kaur, wife of Col Pushpinder, has demanded a CBI probe into the incident, amid groundswell of support from the cross section of society.
It is alleged that Col Pushpinder, posted on a sensitive post under the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India, and his son were brutally beaten by about dozen cops including four police inspectors on the night of 13th-14th March, 2025 near Harbans Dhaba in Patiala.
The armed assailants allegedly attacked Pushpinder and his son without provocation and reportedly snatched Pushpinder’s official I-card and mobile .
Pushpinder has alleged that the assailants gave threats of fake encounter under CCTV
coverage. An FIR was registered and some cops were suspended when the matter was brought to the notice of Governor of Punjab after eight days of the incident.
The police put out a theory that the army officer and along with his son were taking liquor at a public place and on being questioned, Pushpinder’s son assaulted the cops. However, medical reports disprove the allegation that the duo were under the influence of liquor. As part of damage-control exercise during this period, the accused officers made video-calls to Pushpender’s wife, Jaswinder Kaur, admitting to the offence and requested compromise on the issue.
Confrontation between armed forces and police in a border state is a very serious issue and it should be solved to the satisfaction of both parties. A probe by the Punjab Police being party to the incident will not be acceptable to the victims. On the other hand, harsh action against the police officers involved in the incident would demoralise the force. Also, anti-social elements and pro-Khalistani elements in Punjab and abroad can exploit the situation.
Allegations and counter-allegations are being levelled by the police and the army officer against each other. In the heat of media frenzy, nothing can be concluded in a hurry. Retired police officers have come in support of the police while former army men not only from Punjab but from adjoining J&K and Haryana, which have a large number of personnel in the army, are supporting their colleague. Brij Raj Singh, a retired colonel from Haryana, expressing shock over the incident demanded exemplary action against the erring cops. Col Manjeet Singh, along with his wife, visited the protest dharna venue in Patiala to express solidarity with his colleague.
Political opponents of Chief Minister Bhagwant Maan are exploiting the situation to discredit him. Now, farmers have also joined the protest which has further added to the worries of the government which is already facing farmers’ ire due to its action of evicting farmers from dharna sites at Shambhu and Khanauri borders.
Although belated, three police inspectors have been suspended and a case has been registered against twelve cops, including three suspended inspectors, but Pushpinder’s family is not satisfied. Old stories of tiff of SSP, Chandigarh, and an army officer and story of alleged misbehaviour of son of a former CM of Punjab with wives of army personnel in which CM had to express regret for the conduct of his son are reappearing prominently in media.
As part of damage control exercise, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav and Western Command Chief Lt Gen Mohit Wadhva held joint press conference at Chandigarh in which Mohit Wadhva sought exemplary and time-bound action against Punjab police personnel, who allegedly assaulted Col Pushpinder Bath and his son in Patiala. Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav assured that erring staff would be dealt with sternly. Lt Gen Wadhva said that the accused should be punished in a timely and exemplary manner so that the incident does not affect the cordial relationship between the civil administration and serving and retired army personnel. It is believed that had Punjab DGP taken timely action against the erring cops, the situation could not have exploded. Also, CM Bhagwant Maan should have intervened earlier.
