Assault on Colonel: Congress accuses Mann govt of 'lawlessness', seeks CBI probe
The Congress on Saturday accused the AAP government in Punjab of lawlessness after an ex-Army Colonel and his son were allegedly beaten by Punjab Police personnel in civvies. The party demanded a CBI inquiry into the case.
Col Pushpinder Bath and his son were beaten up by 12 policemen in civvies at a local dhaba in Patiala on the intervening night of March 13 and March 14.
Congress leaders Rohit Chowdhary, chairman, ex-servicemen department, and Alok Sharma, who is the party's general secretary and CO incharge of Punjab, said in a joint press conference at the party headquarters at Akbar Road here.
"They mercilessly beat them up. For four days, no FIR was registered in the case. He was not allowed to meet the SSP," said Chowdhary.
He said the case is "sensitive", considering Punjab is a bordering state. "The Army and police relationship is deep in a border state," Chowdhary said.
He alleged that law and order had deteriorated under AAP Government in Punjab.
"This is exceptionally a case of hooliganism by policemen. This has hurt Army men in the country," said Chowdhary.
He also expressed disappointment over the FIR registered against unknown persons, which the local dhaba owner “was asked to file by the police”.
Congress general secretary Alok Sharma said the slogan of Bhagwant Mann's government has become "maro jawaan ko, aur maro kissaan ko".
He alleged that Punjab had been converted into a police state.
He questioned how a local dhaba owner was made a complainant in the case and the case was registered against unknown persons after two days.
He said after the state Governor's interference, the victim Army officer was given protection from Punjab Police itself.
"Even an Army man does not find himself safe in Punjab. Today, he wants security from the police," he said.
He also accused Patiala SSP Nanak Singh of highhandedness, alleging that he was “enjoying patronage of CM Mann”.
The Congress urged the government to initiate a time-bound inquiry into the case and arrest the culprits who "beat the ex-Army officer and his son for 45 minutes".
