HC orders CBI probe into Punjab Police assault on Army Colonel

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday ordered a CBI probe into the alleged assault of Army Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath by Punjab Police personnel in Patiala.The bench of Justice Rajesh Bhardwaj has passed these orders after hearing a plea filed by Colonel Bath accusing the SIT of “shielding” the accused cops of Punjab police.In his fresh plea, Colonel Bath had also sought directions to hand over the probe of the case to CBI.According to the petitioner, who is a serving Colonel in the Indian Army and iscurrently serving as Deputy Secretary at Cabinet Secretariat, he is a hapless victim of extreme brutality and high handedness of the Punjab Police inasmuch as it is a case which demonstrates an inhumane, aggressive, and arrogant attitude of a cruel mindset which is uncharacteristic of what the police force actually represents and where the protectors of law have become the breakers of law.As per the petition, the case was transferred to the Chandigarh Police on April 3, and it is being stated with utmost disappointment that even despite lapse of more than three and a half months of the registration of the FIR and lapse of three months since the Investigation has been handed over to the Chandigarh Police, neither a single accused has been arrested so far, nor any accused has been associated with the investigation.