Punjab court questions delay in FIR against accused police

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has raised concerns about the police's handling of an assault case involving an army colonel and his son. The court suspects that there may be attempts to protect the police officers accused of the attack. Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath claims he and his son were assaulted by twelve members of the Punjab Police over a parking dispute on March 13 in Patiala. The court has ordered the Punjab government to explain why there was a delay in registering a First Information Report (FIR) against the accused officers. The government must provide a detailed response by March 28. During a hearing, lawyers for Colonel Bath presented videos showing some police officers admitting their mistakes. The colonel has asked for the investigation to be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation or another independent agency. He alleges that police officers assaulted him and threatened him, while also trying to pressure his wife into making a compromise. The court noted that the initial FIR was based on the statement of a restaurant owner, rather than on the colonel's report. This raised suspicions about the intent behind the police's actions. The Punjab government has admitted that there were lapses in the procedure and has now registered an FIR. A special investigation team has been set up to look into the case. The judges expressed concern about how the case was handled, emphasizing the importance of proper procedures in investigations, especially involving police misconduct. They mentioned the need for accountability and preservation of evidence, including CCTV footage from the scene of the incident.