SIT records statements of cops in Army officer assault case
The three-member special investigation team (SIT) formed to probe the alleged attack on a Colonel and his son today recorded statements of six police officials posted at the Civil Lines police station.
Interestingly, the SIT is yet to meet the family of Col Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son Angad Bath and record their statements, given the fact that the two victims are demanding a CBI probe. The SIT is also yet to meet the policemen who allegedly attacked Colonel Bath and were booked on March 21.
The Patiala police booked the accused cops under Sections 109, 310, 155(2), 117(2), 126(2) and 351(2) of the BNS. One of the inspectors was booked under Sections 299 and 191 of the BNS after the Bath family staged a dharna.
The three-member SIT, comprising Additional DGP AS Rai, Hoshiarpur SSP Sandeep Malik and SAS Nagar SP Manpreet Singh, today recorded the statements of some policemen. Later, Rai said they had received around 30 phone calls on the SIT helpline number, but these callers only presented their point of view on the issue and not any evidence.
Rai added they would soon meet the complainants and the accused in the case. During their last visit two days ago, the SIT visited the crime spot near a dhaba outside Rajindra Hospital, but the victims stayed away from the team.
“We have cleared our stand to the Punjab Government that we will not settle for anything other than an independent or a CBI probe and transfer of Patiala SSP Nanak Singh. However, till date, both demands remain unfulfilled and, therefore, there is no point in expecting justice from the SIT,” said Jaswinder Kaur Bath, the wife of Colonel Bath.
Colonel Bath, currently posted at the Army headquarters in New Delhi, alleged that he along with his son was assaulted on the night of March 13.
Alleging assault by Punjab Police officers and subsequent manipulation of the investigation, Colonel Bath had moved the HC, seeking a transfer of the probe to the CBI or an independent agency. The next date of hearing is on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria today refrained from commenting on the allegations of betrayal levelled by Jaswinder Kaur against CM Bhagwant Mann. Kataria, who was at Apeejay College of Fine Arts in Jalandhar to attend its golden jubilee function, said, “The family has every right to contest the case. But I cannot comment on what transpired between them and the Punjab CM during their meeting.”
Patiala