A shocking incident unfolded in Punjab’s Patiala, where an Army officer and his son found themselves in a violent clash with police over something as simple as a parking spot. This wasn’t just a minor disagreement—it turned ugly fast, and the whole thing was caught on camera, leaving people stunned and angry about what happened.

The trouble started on March 13, right outside a small roadside eatery, or dhaba, where people often stop for a quick bite. There’s video evidence from a CCTV camera that captured every moment of this messy situation, showing just how quickly things spiraled out of control. It all began when some police personnel, dressed in regular clothes instead of their uniforms, approached Colonel Pushpinder Bath. He’s a respected officer currently stationed at the Army Headquarters in New Delhi, and he was just trying to enjoy a meal with his son. These cops told him to move his vehicle, likely because they wanted the parking space for themselves.

Now, Colonel Bath didn’t take kindly to how they spoke to him. Reports say he objected to their tone—maybe it was rude or demanding—and that’s when the situation took a nasty turn. The disagreement wasn’t settled with words. Instead, the police personnel allegedly lashed out physically. They didn’t hold back, reportedly kicking and punching Colonel Bath right there in the open. His son, seeing his father under attack, stepped in to help, but that only made things worse. The cops turned on him too, and the father and son duo were both caught up in the chaos.

It didn’t stop with just fists and feet. The police personnel apparently grabbed baseball bats and used them to beat Colonel Bath and his son. Imagine the scene: a quiet night at a dhaba, people eating their food, and suddenly this violent outburst erupts, all because of a parking spot. Colonel Pushpinder Bath later shared that the attack happened on the night bridging March 13 and 14. Both he and his son were hurt badly enough that they had to be taken to a hospital, where they’re still getting treatment for their injuries.

The police did file a First Information Report (FIR), but here’s the catch—it’s against “unidentified people.” That’s raised some eyebrows because the family of Colonel Bath is absolutely certain it was Punjab Police personnel who did this. They’ve been vocal about pointing the finger at the cops, especially since the attackers were in civilian clothes during the scuffle. It’s not clear why they weren’t in uniform, but it adds a layer of confusion to an already messy situation.

Interestingly, one of the policemen accused of attacking the colonel has a different story. He’s claiming it was actually Colonel Bath and his son who started the fight, turning the blame back on them. This back-and-forth has only muddied the waters further, leaving people wondering who’s really telling the truth.

Patiala’s Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Dr. Nanak Singh, stepped in to address the situation. He confirmed that an FIR has been lodged and an investigation is underway. He explained that the case was initially based on what the dhaba owner told the police, which might explain why it’s against unidentified people so far. At a press conference held on Saturday in Patiala, Colonel Bath’s wife, Jaswinder Bath, opened up about what happened that night. She said her husband and son had stopped at a dhaba near Government Rajindra Hospital on the intervening night of March 13 and 14. They were just standing by their car, eating some food, when the trouble started.

Jaswinder recounted how the accused police officers rolled up and demanded that Colonel Bath move his car so they could park theirs. She said, “When my husband objected to their language, one of them punched him. Later, all the police personnel thrashed my husband and my son,” painting a vivid picture of a sudden and brutal attack. Her voice likely trembled with emotion as she spoke, reliving the horror of seeing her loved ones hurt over something so trivial.

Colonel Bath himself spoke to Hindustan Times and dropped another bombshell. He said, “The police have not named the cops as accused in the case. Moreover, this FIR was registered after senior army officers intervened,” suggesting that the police might not have acted quickly—or at all—if higher-ups from the Army hadn’t stepped in. It’s a detail that hints at some reluctance or delay on the police’s part, adding fuel to the family’s frustration.

Dr. Nanak Singh, the senior police officer, later announced that 12 cops have been suspended over this incident. He’s also ordered a departmental inquiry to dig deeper into what happened, promising that it’ll be wrapped up in 45 days. That’s a step toward accountability, but for Colonel Bath’s family, it might feel like too little, too late after such a traumatic experience.

The trouble kicked off when former Chinar Corps Commander Lieutenant General (retd) KJS Dhillon caught wind of what happened. He didn’t hold back his feelings, calling it downright shocking. On the social media platform X, he wrote, “This is the most atrocious & disgusting behaviour by Punjab Police towards a serving officer of the @adgpi & his son. I hope @CMOPbIndia @DGPPunjabPolice take immediate action. Jai Hind,” letting the world know just how wrong he thought this was. His words hit hard, coming from someone with his experience, and it set the tone for the outrage that followed. It’s the kind of reaction that makes you stop and think—how could something like this even happen?

Colonel Pushpinder Bath, who works at the Army Headquarters in New Delhi, shared his side of the story. He said, “I was assaulted on the intervening night of March 13 and 14,” recalling the moment everything went downhill. Right now, he’s in a hospital, patched up and recovering from the injuries he got that night. It’s tough to imagine a man who’s served his country being laid up like this over something as small as a parking spot, but that’s exactly what happened.

Jaswinder Bath, the colonel’s wife, stepped up to tell everyone what she saw go down. At a press conference in Patiala on Saturday, she explained how it all started. She said, “My husband along with their son reached a dhaba near Government Rajindra Hospital on the intervening night of March 13 and 14,” painting a picture of a normal night out that turned into a nightmare. They’d stopped at this little roadside eatery, probably just looking to grab some food and relax after a long day. Jaswinder went on, saying that while they were standing by their car, eating, some police officers showed up and told her husband to move his vehicle because they needed the parking space for themselves.

Things got heated fast. Jaswinder told News18 that when Pushpinder didn’t like the way the cops talked to him, one of them lashed out. She said, “When Pushpinder objected to their language, one of them punched him,” and that’s when all hell broke loose. According to her, it wasn’t just a quick scuffle—the police didn’t stop there. She described how, “Her husband and son were beaten using baseball bats and sharp-edged weapons because of which the colonel’s arm was broken and her son suffered a long incised cut on his head.” Just hearing that makes your stomach turn. A father and son, minding their own business, suddenly attacked so badly they ended up with a broken arm and a deep gash. Both of them had to be rushed to the hospital, where they’re still being looked after, trying to heal from the physical and emotional scars of that night.

Jaswinder didn’t stop there—she had more to say about how the police handled things afterward. She told News18 that, “The authorities recorded the statement of the victims after much delay,” hinting at a frustrating wait that only added to their pain. Even worse, she claimed, “No FIR has been filed even after repeated requests,” leaving the family feeling ignored and let down by the very people meant to protect them. It’s the kind of thing that makes you wonder why it took so long for anyone to listen.

But Patiala SSP Dr. Nanak Singh had a different take when he spoke to Hindustan Times. He said, “We have registered an FIR and started an investigation,” trying to assure everyone that they’re on the case. He added, “We had registered the case on the statement of a dhaba owner,” which raises questions about why it wasn’t based on the colonel’s own words first. Still, it shows the police were at least starting to move, even if it felt slow to the family caught in the middle of it all.

The story didn’t end there, though. After the news spread and people started sharing the CCTV footage online, the public’s anger boiled over. By Monday, the pressure was too much to ignore, and the Punjab Police took action. Twelve officers, including three inspectors named Harry Boparai, Ronnie Singh, and Harjinder Dhillon, were suspended. A departmental inquiry was set up to dig into what really happened that night. The senior superintendent of police, Nanak Singh, stepped up to face the music. He said, “The 12 policemen, including inspectors Harry Boparai, Ronnie Singh and Harjinder Dhillon, had been suspended with immediate effect,” making it clear they weren’t messing around anymore. He went on, “The matter is being probed in detail and justice will be done,” promising that they’d get to the bottom of it and make things right. You could hear the regret in his voice—he even apologized for what happened, knowing how bad it looked for the police force.

That CCTV footage, showing every punch and swing, hit social media like a thunderbolt. Retired Army officers, like Lt. Gen. Dhillon, watched it and couldn’t stay quiet. They called out the police, demanding tough action against the officers involved. It wasn’t just about one family anymore—it became a rallying cry for fairness and respect, especially for someone who’s given so much to the country. The video evidence was hard to argue with, and it fueled the push that led to those suspensions.

This whole mess has left a mark on Patiala, and it’s not fading anytime soon. From a simple stop at a dhaba to a brutal beating and now suspensions, it’s a story that’s got everyone talking. Colonel Bath and his son are still in the hospital, piecing themselves back together, while the police face the heat of an investigation. It’s a reminder of how fast things can go wrong—and how loud people will shout when they see something unjust.