PATIALA: Col Pushpinder Singh Baath‘s wife, Jaswinder Kaur Bath, on Saturday led a protest by ex-servicemen to demand a CBI probe into the assault on her husband and son Angad.
The army wife also received support from Congress MP from Patiala seat Dharamvira Gandhi and his predecessor, Congress-turned-BJP leader Preneet Kaur.
Col Bath and Angad were assaulted by a group of Punjab Police personnel in Patiala around nine days ago over a car parking issue, it has been alleged.
On Saturday, a number people claiming to be ex-servicemen joined Jaswinder Kaur’s for the protest in Patiala. The protesters also sought the arrest of accused cops and that their names be made public. They showed lack of faith in the Punjab Police special investigation team (SIT) that is probing the allegations and announced to continue the stir until their demands were met.
In a fresh case registered on Friday, police had named Roni Singh, Harjinder Singh Dhillon, Harry Boparai, Rajvir Singh, Surjeet Singh, and booked one unknown person in the FIR. “How can we expect justice and a fair probe from SSP Nanak Singh, who is fearing to disclose even the names of accused cops who are also placed under suspension?” Jaswinder said.
She questioned why the accused cops were not sent to jail so far despite some of them confessing their crimes and their videos being out. “FIR should have been registered the very next day of incident. An inquiry should also be initiated against SSP Nanak Singh, who called me to the police station at midnight only to harass me over case registration. He is shielding the accused cops. My son told me after the incident that he wants to leave this country as there is no law and order. We are seeking justice. This is a battle of every common man,” said Jaswinder.
Jaswinder made it clear she had not political intent. “I will not join any political party but will fight for every woman who is seeking justice, every weekend on humanitarian grounds. I will fight for Punjab. Imagine the plight of the common man if the police can turn atrocious on a serving army official. My father, an ex-serviceman, and all ex-servicemen have stood by my support,” added Jaswinder.
Preneet Kaur said she visited the protest not as a politician, but as the wife of Capt Amarinder Singh, also an ex-serviceman.
An SIT headed by SPS Parmar, additional director general of police (law and order), with Hoshiarpur SSP Sandeep Malik and SAS Nagar SSP (rural) Manpreet Singh as members, has been constituted by the director, bureau of investigation, Punjab.
The SIT has been directed to conduct the investigation on a day-to-day basis for the collection of evidence and legal proceedings, to ensure that the culprits are proceeded against as per law. The accused cops have been transferred out of Patiala district, so that the investigation can be conducted fairly. A total of 12 police officials have already been placed under suspension, and departmental proceedings for major punishment have been initiated against them.
Jaswinder earlier claimed that all accused cops were in civil dress and were drunk on the intervening night of March 13 and 14 when they attacked Col Bath and Angad. The police initially registered the FIR against unidentified individuals based on the complaint made by the Dhaba owner, instead of Col Bath whosed left arm was fractured and son got stitches on his head.
