Congress Urges High-Level Inquiry into Colonel Assault Case
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Synopsis
The Congress party demands a comprehensive investigation into the assault on Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son by police in Patiala. They allege a cover-up by the Aam Aadmi Party and stress the need for accountability in Punjab's law enforcement.
Key Takeaways
- Congress party demands an independent probe.
- Colonel Bath and son attacked by plainclothes policemen.
- Call for dismissal of implicated police officers.
- Highlighting declining law and order in Punjab.
- Proposal for an 'Ex-servicemen Commission'.
New Delhi, March 22 (NationPress) Following the incident on March 13 near Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, where Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath encountered a clash with law enforcement while driving, the Congress party has demanded a thorough and independent investigation into the occurrence.
Colonel Bath and his son were assaulted by a group of 12 plainclothes policemen at a local dhaba during the night of March 13 and 14.
During a press briefing at the AICC (All India Congress Committee) headquarters in New Delhi, Col Rohit Chaudhary, Chairman of the AICC Ex-Servicemen Department, along with Alok Sharma, AICC Secretary and co-in-charge for Punjab, insisted on the removal and prosecution of all police personnel involved. They accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the administration in Punjab of attempting to obscure the truth behind the incident.
The leaders highlighted that no FIR (First Information Report) was filed for several days post-incident. They alleged that the dhaba owner was coerced into lodging an FIR against unidentified individuals to shield the actual offenders.
They asserted that the government has been working to protect the implicated officers.
According to the Congress leaders, the attack on an Army Colonel underscores the deteriorating law and order in Punjab under the Aam Aadmi Party administration. They called for the Patiala SSP to be included in the FIR for allegedly shielding the guilty personnel and advocated for the involvement of senior military officials in the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Expressing alarm over the rampant drug issues in the state, they condemned the terror instigated by the drug mafia and the misconduct displayed by the police. They held the Aam Aadmi Party responsible for Punjab's decline.
Furthermore, they urged the Army Chief to request the President's intervention to avert further assaults on armed forces members.
The Congress officials also supported establishing an 'Ex-servicemen Commission' with judicial authority to address such incidents and resolve grievances of military personnel. They proposed stricter security measures for soldiers, ex-servicemen, and their families, along with legislation aimed at preventing mistreatment by government entities, similar to laws in other nations.
