Cong seeks CBI probe into assault on Colonel, son

The Congress on Saturday sought the CBI probe into alleged assault on Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son by police personnel.

Addressing media, Congress leaders Rohit Chowdhary, chairman of the ex-servicemen department, and Alok Sharma, who is co-incharge of Punjab, said there was ‘lawlessness’ in the state.

Colonel Bath and his son were beaten up by 12 policemen in civvies at a dhaba in Patiala on the intervening night of March 13 and March 14.

Chowdhary said, “They thrashed them mercilessly. For four days, no FIR was registered in the case. He was not allowed to meet the SSP.”

He claimed that law and order had deteriorated under the AAP government in Punjab. “Police personnel resorted to hooliganism. This has hurt our Armed Forces,” said Chowdhary.

Sharma said the CM Bhagwant Mann-led government had coined a slogan “maro jawan ko, aur maro kisan ko”.

Alleging that Punjab had been converted into a police state, Sharma questioned how a dhaba owner was made a complainant and the case was registered against unknown persons after two days of the incident.

He said after Governor Gulab Chand Kataria intervened and the Army officer was given protection.