Police assault on Colonel in Patiala: How the case is similar to the 1992 Army officer attack row that cost Chandigarh SSP his post

Though the Western Command headquarters of the Army released a statement acknowledging the Punjab Police’s investigation into the attack, sources in the defence fraternity alleged that no senior Army officer has publicly condemned the incident nor demanded a speedy investigation.

Off the record, Army officers at Western Command have indicated that the Army has taken a stern stand, urging the Punjab Police top brass to take immediate action against the policemen who attacked the Colonel and his son allegedly with baseball bats and sharp-edged weapons on the night of March 13-14.

When told that there was a perception among defence officers regarding Western Command’s lack of strong action in the matter, an Army officer said, “We can assure you that we made it very clear to the state government and the police in strong words that we expect the law to take its course. We shall ensure that things will be taken to their logical conclusion”.

In the October 1992 incident, a joint investigation was conducted by Brigadier Ashok Chaki and DIG N S Aulakh into the incident where Sumedh Singh Saini, then the SSP of Chandigarh, assaulted Lieutenant Colonel Ravi Vats. Vats, who was on leave from his posting in Leh and was at his residence in Chandigarh’s Sector 7, stepped out to investigate gunshots he heard nearby. These gunshots were initially thought to be related to a possible militant attack on Saini’s bodyguard, head constable Raj Kumar. Vats, dressed in civilian clothes, encountered Saini and his security team during this commotion.

Reports at the time said there was an altercation when Saini asked the onlookers to clear the area to which the Army officer refused to oblige after which the SSP and his security personnel assaulted the Army officer. The police contended that the Lt Colonel was in civilian clothes and had not identified himself. Once Vats established his identity at the police station, he was treated with respect, the Chandigarh Police said.

Following the assault, Vats was taken into custody and held at a police station overnight, an action later deemed illegal.

The incident sparked outrage within the Army, which viewed it as an egregious overreach by the police against one of its officers. It escalated into a significant confrontation between the Army and the Chandigarh Police. The Army lodged strong protests, citing multiple instances of alleged police high-handedness against its personnel in Punjab, where military forces were deployed to assist in countering militancy.

Lt Gen Bipin Chandra Joshi, who later became the Chief of Army Staff, was then the Western Army commander and had spoken to the then Punjab chief minister Beant Singh and Governor Surendra Nath over the issue. Following mounting pressure, a joint investigation was ordered by Governor Nath, comprising a DIG and a brigadier.

Following the incident, Saini was removed from the Chandigarh SSP post in early 1993 and repatriated to his parent cadre, Punjab. As per sources, Saini was chargesheeted under Rule 10 of All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969. Three other constables involved in the attack were placed under suspension, and disciplinary proceedings were initiated against them.
The incident sparked outrage within the Army, which viewed it as an egregious overreach by the police against one of its officers. It escalated into a significant confrontation between the Army and the Chandigarh Police. The Army lodged strong protests, citing multiple prior instances of police high-handedness against its personnel in Punjab, where military forces were deployed to assist in countering militancy.

Lt Gen Bipin Chandra Joshi, who later became the Chief of Army Staff, was then the Western Army Commander and is learned to have personally spoken to the then Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh and Governor Surendra Nath. In response to the mounting pressure, a joint investigation was ordered by Punjab Governor Surendra Nath, comprising a Deputy Inspector General of Police and an Army Brigadier. The inquiry resulted in separate reports, with the Army’s findings holding Saini accountable for misconduct.

The incident led to Saini’s eventual removal from the Chandigarh SSP post in early 1993 and repatriation to his parent cadre, Punjab. The Punjab government reverted him to his parent cadre in Punjab and contemplated disciplinary action, marking a rare instance of accountability for a police officer known for his aggressive tactics during Punjab’s militancy era.

These twin episodes, more than three decades apart, underscore the inherent tensions between military and police forces and highlight concerns over the conduct of policemen.