Congress protests police assault on Colonel in Punjab

Congress members walked out of the Punjab assembly on Friday. They were protesting against a recent police assault on an army colonel and his son. The incident occurred during a budget session when Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa attempted to speak during the governor's address. Bajwa and other Congress MLAs chanted slogans and displayed placards criticizing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for its handling of the situation. They specifically condemned the treatment of farmers protesting at the borders with Haryana. Before leaving the assembly, Bajwa called for a judicial inquiry into the assault on Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son Angad, who were allegedly attacked by police officers. The assault reportedly happened on March 13. Colonel Bath and his son were at a roadside eatery in Patiala when they were confronted over parking. The family claims that the police attacked them when they did not comply with a demand to move their vehicle. Bajwa demanded accountability for the involved officers, stating that they should be arrested and dismissed from their positions. The governor received the colonel's family on Thursday. They sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry, rejecting a local probe initiated by the Punjab government. The state has appointed an inquiry officer to look into the incident, but dissatisfaction remains within the family regarding the investigation's progress. The police have suspended the 12 officers involved in the assault, and departmental inquiries are ongoing. As tensions rise over these events, the Congress party continues to push for justice and accountability.