New Delhi: On August 2, the Supreme Court of India has strongly rejected the petition filed by two Punjab policemen accused of brutally assaulting an Army officer and his son in Patiala. The top court refused to interfere with the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s earlier decision, which had handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

A bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma made it clear that the conduct of the policemen was unacceptable and said they should not misbehave with those who serve the country.

“Don’t misbehave with an Army officer who is serving the country,”

the bench told the petitioners during the hearing.

The incident happened on the night of March 13 and 14, 2025, when Army Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son Angad were having dinner at a roadside dhaba in Patiala.

A dispute broke out over parking, and following that, a group of around 12 police personnel allegedly assaulted the Colonel and his son. According to reports, the beating was so severe that the victims were left badly injured.

The Supreme Court observed,

“We owe our peaceful sleep to the tireless commitment of the Army. Any disrespect or mistreatment towards them is intolerable.”

It further stated,

“Don’t misbehave with an Army officer who is serving the country.”

In his petition, Colonel Bath submitted,

“The investigation of the instant case was transferred to the Chandigarh Police on April 3, 2025, 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 Chandigarh Police, neither a single accused has been arrested so far, nor any accused has been associated with the investigation.”

Even worse, after the physical assault, the policemen allegedly threatened to kill the Colonel in a fake encounter.

This shocking incident soon went viral across social media platforms and attracted widespread attention in the mainstream media.

Despite the serious nature of the accusations, the local police took eight days to register a First Information Report (FIR).

Eventually, 12 police officers were suspended, and an FIR was filed under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 115(2), 351(2), 109, 310, 117(1), 117(2), 126(2), and 190.

The Punjab Police had also set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter, but the progress of the investigation was extremely slow. None of the 12 accused policemen were arrested even weeks after the incident.

Feeling frustrated and disappointed by the delay in justice, Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The High Court took a serious view of the matter. It reprimanded the SIT for conducting a “lax and ineffective” investigation and raised serious questions about the deletion of the section related to attempt to murder from the charges.

The High Court then passed an order directing that the investigation be taken over by the CBI for a more independent and fair probe.

Two of the suspended policemen, Inspector Harjinder Singh Dhillon and Harry Boparai, were unhappy with the High Court’s decision.

They approached the Supreme Court challenging the order. However, the Supreme Court firmly dismissed their plea and supported the High Court’s judgment in full.

The top court bench was visibly displeased with the behaviour of the accused policemen. “Don’t misbehave with an Army officer who is serving the country,” the bench told them in open court.

It also issued a stern warning, stating that had the bench chosen to impose a penalty for their misconduct, a heavy fine would have been justified. However, the court refrained from imposing any fine at this stage.

Concluding its remarks, the bench stated,

“The Army stands for the nation. If we cannot ensure their protection, we are compromising national integrity.”

Background of the Case

The incident took place on the night of March 13 and 14, 2025, in Patiala, Punjab. Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son Angad were having dinner at a roadside dhaba (local eatery) when they got into an argument with some Punjab Police officers over parking.

According to Colonel Bath, the argument soon turned violent, and 12 policemen, including four inspectors and their armed subordinates, brutally assaulted him and his son without any provocation.

Colonel Bath alleged that the policemen also took away his official identity card and mobile phone and even threatened him with a “fake encounter.” He claimed that the entire assault took place publicly and was recorded on CCTV.

The incident gained wide attention on social media and in the news. But despite the seriousness of the matter, the local police took eight days to register a First Information Report (FIR).

On April 3, 2025, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Chandigarh Police to take over the investigation and complete it within four months. The SIT was then headed by Superintendent of Police Manjeet Sheoran.

But Colonel Bath soon returned to the High Court, stating that the Chandigarh Police had also failed to take action.

ALSO READ: Pushpa-2 Stampede Case: Court Relaxes Allu Arjun’s Bail Conditions, Permits Travel Abroad

He said that even after three-and-a-half months of the FIR being registered,

“neither a single accused has been arrested so far, nor any accused has been associated with the investigation.”

In his petition, he further argued,

“Moreover, the contention of the petitioner regarding any conscious effort on the part of the investigating agency can be cemented from the fact that no non-bailable warrant, no PO (proclaimed offender) proceeding or any other legal proceeding which would be indicative of some conscious and sincere effort, has been initiated on the part of the concerned Investigating agency.”

Due to the lack of progress and impartiality, the High Court, on July 16, 2025, transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Before the Supreme Court hearing, Colonel Bath also filed a caveat through his advocate Sumeer Sodhi, requesting that no order be passed without hearing his side.

CASE TITLE:
HARJINDER SINGH DHILLON Vs PUSHPINDER SINGH BATH
D No. 41450/2025

Case Details: HARJINDER SINGH DHILLON Vs PUSHPINDER SINGH BATH|D No. 41450/2025

A TIGHT SLAP ON PUNJAB POLICE , PUNJAB Govt , CHANDIGARH POLICE who went out of way to protect these ‘Scoundrels’.

The Supreme Court today(August 4) strongly deprecated the conduct of Punjab police officers who were accused of assaulting a serving Army Colonel, Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son. Bath, who was posted at the Army headquarters in New Delhi, alleged that on the night of March 13, four Inspector-rank officers of Punjab Police and their armed subordinates attacked him and his son without any provocation in Punjab. It is the case that both were allegedly beaten up because they refused to move their cars while they were having food at an eatery while travelling from Delhi to Patiala. It is also the case of the Army Officer (the complainant in this case) that no FIR was lodged despite their running from pillar to post because the State was trying to shield its officers. Also Read – CJI BR Gavai To Discuss With Justice Surya Kant On Hearing PMLA Review & Pleas To Refer ‘Vijay Madanlal’ Judgment Together A bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma dismissed the special leave petition challenging the High Court of Punjab and Haryana’s order directing an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (“CBI”). Rejecting the petition filed by the police officers, the Court remarked that the High Court’s order is “well-reasoned”. Initially, the Court orally said that it was inclined to impose heavy costs, but nevertheless did not impose them while dictating the final order. Also Read – Supreme Court Asks Ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, Son To Approach High Court For Interim Reliefs In Liquor ‘Scam’ & Other Cases The Advocate, for the petitioner, submitted that the High Court passed an order in a way which have indicted them even before the trial had begun. Advocate Sumeer Sodhi appeared for the Army Officer. Disagreeing with this, Justice Sharma remarked: “When the war is going on, you glorify these army officers…Your SSP says, I am not able to arrest them in spite of rejection of anticipatory bail because they are police officers…Eight days delay in lodging FIR?! Have respect for Army people. You are sleeping peacefully in your house because that man is serving the border at -40 degrees…We are going to dismiss this with heavy cost. This kind of lawlessness is not acceptable. No legal arguments, nothing is there…Your bail was dismissed, they are roaming freely and they have not been arrested…Let the CBI look into this…They go and defend you, and they come back wrapped in a national flag.” Also Read – Judiciary Always Safeguarded Free & Fair Elections : Justice Surya Kant Justice Kumar added: “If you have nothing to hide, why do you feel shy of independent inquiry?” Eight days after the FIR was lodged, the complainant, apprehending no fair investigation, approached the High Court, which transferred the investigation to the IPS Officer Manjit, SP, UT, Chandigarh, to conclude within 4 months. Subsequently, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed. Despite this direction, none of the police officers were arrested, and the High Court was compelled to observe that there is no material to show that the investigation is being carried out in a fair manner. It, therefore, directed the investigation to be carried out by CBI via its July 16 order. Also Read – ‘Can’t Go Endlessly’ : Supreme Court Questions Delay In Forensic Report On Tapes Alleging Biren Singh’s Role In Manipur Violence Justice Rajesh Bhardwaj of the High Court, while directing investigation to CBI, observed: “From the overwhelming circumstances of the case, the Court is convinced that the Investigating Agency is not only trying to create loopholes in the investigation, but trying to make craters in the investigation so as to ensure that once the charge-sheet is filed before the Court, the case of the prosecution should hardly be able to crawl in the Court,” it observed. The High Court, while hearing the previous pleas, had pulled up the Punjab Government for the delay in arresting the Punjab Police personnel allegedly involved in the assault. The High Court had also rejected the anticipatory bail of one of the Punjab police personnel, terming the incident “horrific, gut-wrenching incident”.

4 Aug 2025 2:41 PM

Video: @flyspicejet employee Mudasir Ahmad Khan and his gang tried to assault the Army officer first.
(Watch first 30 seconds of the video)

If you dare to touch an army Officer, you are destined to bite the dust.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police are also examining the use of Bactrian camels

After almost a decade of trails and evaluation, the Army has formalised the induction of Bactrian camels, the hardy, short and double-humped species found in Ladakh, for patrolling and ferrying loads to remote posts in high altitude areas.

A few weeks ago, the Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) in Leh handed over 14 trained and deployable Bactrian camels, along with standard operating procedures and health records for training and management, to the Army’s 14 Corps. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police are also examining the use of Bactrian camels.

While an extensive network of roads has been developed in Ladakh, the last-mile connectivity to remote posts is through porters and pack animals. Drones as well as mechanical mules are also being introduced for logistics.

At high altitudes, the use of mechanical platforms like drones are affected by weather conditions, environmental factors and visibility, which animals to some extent can offset. For example, a drone may not be able to fly in fog, whereas men and animals can move on ground, a scientist said. Also, drones and other radio-controlled equipment are more susceptible to enemy counter-actions.

Following requirements projected by the Army, research was initiated in 2016 by DIHAR, a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory, in collaboration with the Remount and Veterinary Corps, to study the feasibility and suitability of employing Bactrian camels for load carrying, patrolling and other logistics in eastern Ladakh. 

During the study, suitable training on various command and behavioural measures and experimental studies on physical measurement, adaptation physiology and load-carrying endurance on different topography and altitude were undertaken.

A few Bactrian camels were also sent to Army units for extensive field trials on patrolling and load-carrying aspects as well as battle inoculation tests at forward locations under different operational conditions. Scientists said it is not just the load-carrying ability that was examined but also how the animals trained and adapted to battlefield conditions like gunshot and blast sounds, smoke and fear psychosis.

DIHAR’s studies revealed these animals are well adapted to hypoxia and extreme cold and can be trained for carrying out two-man patrols as well as ferry substantially more load than mules and ponies. They can carry 150-200 kg on gravel tracks at altitudes up to 14,000 feet as compared to 60-80 kg by mules and ponies, while also requiring lesser nutritional and husbandry maintenance.

In fact, DIHAR had transported three desert camels from Rajasthan to Leh to carry out comparative analysis between the two types of animals. Desert camels are widely used by the Border Security Force in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Scientifically known as Camelus Bactrianus, the Bactrian camels are natives of Central Asia and in the olden days were used as an effective means of transport for trade along the Silk Route connecting Central Asia to Tibet and Ladakh in India. They are short in height, generally under six feet and are characterised by twin humps on their back.

After the trade route was closed, some of these camels were abandoned by the traders and they lived in the wilderness of Ladakh. Listed as endangered species, only a few hundred such camels are surviving in Ladakh and these are now primarily used for tourism, mostly in the Nubra valley, offering rides to tourists.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/defence/army-formalises-induction-of-hardy-double-humped-camel-for-logistics-in-ladakh/#:~:text=After%20almost%20a,rides%20to%20tourists.

The incident occurs at the camp of the CAF’s 2nd battalion in Bayanar village

An official of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle in Kondagaon district, police said on Monday.

The incident occurred on Sunday night at the camp of the CAF’s 2^nd battalion in Bayanar village, said Kaushalendra Dev Patel, additional superintendent of police, Konagaon.

He said Dinesh Singh Chandel, a platoon commander, shot himself with his AK-47 rifle, inside his room in the camp.On hearing the gunshot, his colleagues rushed to the scene and found him dead, the official said.While the exact cause for the extreme step was yet to be ascertained, prima facie, it appears that Chandel committed suicide due to family issues, he said.

Chandel was a resident of Bhilai in Durg district, and further probe into the matter is underway, Patel added.On July 30, a constable of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service weapon in Bijapur district.

According to the state home department, 177 security personnel committed suicide in the state between 2019 and June 15, 2025.

Op Sindoor Parliament debate: Pahalgam lapses sidestepped

L-G Sinha stresses collective resolve to dismantle terror ecosystem

Army felicitated for creating national record in organ donation pledging

India receives Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft from Spain

Op Akhal: 2 terrorists killed in encounter with security forces in J&K’s Kulgam

Six years, no justice: Navy jawan loses land, home to soil erosion

Regaining trust

Govt fixes rates of 37 essential drugs

Lt Gen Sadhna Nair assesses readiness at Military Hospital Secunderabad

Air Commodore Chandra Kumar Rasyara assumed command of Air Force Station, Manauri as the Air Officer Commanding

Army will need to examine the judgment before any decision i

Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan takes over as WNC chief

Indian Army signs MoU with GITAM University—boosting academic opportunities for Indian Army wards:

With reference to ‘When Parliament should have spoken as one’; the writer has rightly stated that a parliamentary resolution indicating a united stand among all political parties on cross-border terrorism would have sent a strong message to Pakistan. The lawmakers, by and large, stuck to the usual rhetoric. The most important issue that the ruling dispensation tried to bypass was the security or intelligence lapses at an important tourist spot like Pahalgam. Unanimity on any matter was unfortunately missing in Parliament.

Focus on embarrassing the govt

Apropos of ‘When Parliament should have spoken as one’; after the much-sought-after debate on Op Sindoor was held, it emerged that the Opposition’s insistence on the debate was aimed more at embarrassing the ruling dispensation than to address the issues of terrorism and national security. The Opposition had the right to ask the government about the details of the military operation. However, it was unbecoming of some Congress leaders to doubt if the Pahalgam terrorists were from Pakistan. Whatever be the differences between the Opposition and the ruling party, we should stand united on non-negotiable matters like national security.

HMS Nagra, Faridabad

Exchange of barbs in Parliament

The debate on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha should have been spurred serious introspection and national resolve. It sadly turned out to be a routine and superficial exchange. It appeared as though both sides were merely reading out news reports instead of doing a serious analysis. The ruling party, rather than addressing the issue with sincerity, was busy digging out old incidents to counter criticism. On the other hand, the Leader of the Opposition failed to explain the points he had raised himself at the outset — lack of willpower and a free hand to the armed forces. National security and the morale of the security forces should be given priority over political one-upmanship.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday emphasised the collective resolve to eliminate terrorism and dismantle terror networks that pose a threat to national security and development.

He was interacting with the officers attending the Higher Command Course-54 at Army War College, Mhow.The Lieutenant Governor addressed the officers and faculty members of Army War College at the Raj Bhawan in Srinagar and discussed contemporary geo-political and geo-strategic issues, besides counter-terrorism strategy and whole-of-government approach to dismantle terror ecosystem.

“I congratulate and thank the outstanding officers of the three services for keeping all citizens safe and safeguarding the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country. We must vow to eliminate every terrorist and terrorist organisation that threatens our safety, security and prosperity,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

He also shared a range of key reforms and initiatives taken by the J&K administration and security apparatus in the past few years to ensure inclusive development, peace and prosperity.

Lt Gen Harjeet Singh Sahi, Commandant, Army War College, faculty members and senior officers of the Security Forces were present.

OPEN PDf FILE CLICK ON THIS HEADING