Punjab Outlook

In Punjab, police brutality has become a harsh reality that many innocent families have been forced to face. Incidents where Punjab Police personnel misuse their power to torture, harass, and falsely implicate citizens are reported frequently. However, what is even more disturbing is the systematic failure of the justice mechanism, where victims find themselves helpless in front of a corrupt and biased structure. Approaching higher police officials or state authorities is often useless because these complaints are buried under internal politics and pressures. There is a common belief among people that once someone becomes a victim of police atrocity in Punjab, justice will remain out of reach if the victim lacks money and political backing.

The legal recourse that seems like a ray of hope for many is seeking an independent investigation through agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). But the ground reality is that getting a CBI inquiry is not an easy path. It requires financial resources, influential legal representation, and the stamina to withstand long legal battles that can stretch over years. Most victims, especially from lower-income backgrounds, cannot afford these legal expenses and are forced to give up. The system, thus, indirectly tells the poor to accept injustice silently because justice has become a luxury that only the rich can afford.

A striking example is the case of Colonel (Retd.) Jaswinder Singh Bath and his son, who were mercilessly beaten by Punjab Police personnel. Despite Col. Bath’s decorated service record in the Indian Army, he had to struggle for months to get a fair investigation. The local police refused to act against their own officers, and the state machinery remained unmoved. Ultimately, Col. Bath approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which ordered a CBI investigation. Even then, the accused officers used their resources to challenge the probe in the Supreme Court. Fortunately, the apex court dismissed their plea and ordered them to face the CBI investigation. But this legal battle was possible only because Col. Bath had the courage, resources, and connections to continue his fight. One can only imagine the situation of a poor farmer or laborer who becomes a victim of such police atrocities — where will they go?

How Other Countries Ensure Justice for Police Victims

If we look at other democracies, mechanisms have been established to ensure that victims of police misconduct are not left helpless. In the United Kingdom, for instance, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigates serious complaints against police officers. This body operates independently from the police and provides a transparent mechanism for civilians to seek justice without the influence of the police hierarchy. Victims don’t have to run from pillar to post or spend huge sums of money to get an impartial investigation.

Similarly, in Canada, there are Civilian Oversight Agencies in every province, such as the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) in Ontario. These agencies allow ordinary citizens to file complaints against police officers directly. The process is transparent, and the oversight bodies are empowered to take disciplinary or criminal action against guilty officers. The legal costs for the complainants are either minimal or fully covered by the state, ensuring that financial capability does not become a hurdle in accessing justice.

In Australia, bodies like the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) have sweeping powers to investigate police misconduct. These agencies are designed to act independently, ensuring that victims from even the remotest parts of the country can approach them without fearing retaliation or needing political connections. Importantly, legal aid is provided by the state to ensure no citizen is denied justice due to a lack of resources.

The Grim Reality of Punjab: Justice Remains a Privilege

In Punjab, however, no such independent or state-funded mechanism exists for victims of police abuse. Victims are left to fend for themselves, forced to knock on the doors of courts, higher authorities, or in rare cases, the CBI. But every step in this journey demands money, time, and influence. The poor, therefore, often surrender to their fate, knowing that fighting a corrupt and powerful system is beyond their capacity. In many cases, victims are pressurized into “compromises” where they are either threatened or lured into withdrawing complaints in exchange for small settlements.

Unlike countries where oversight bodies are bound to act within a specific timeline, complaints in Punjab can drag on for years. The absence of independent investigative agencies at the state level and the lack of financial assistance to victims has turned justice into a far-fetched dream for ordinary citizens.

What Needs to Change?

To restore public faith, Punjab urgently needs to establish an Independent Police Complaints Commission that is free from political and police influence. This body should be empowered to investigate police misconduct on its own and must be approachable by every citizen, irrespective of their socio-economic status. Additionally, the state must create legal aid cells specifically for victims of police abuse, ensuring that financial limitations do not prevent anyone from seeking justice.

Furthermore, the judiciary should consider setting up Fast-Track Courts to handle cases of police brutality. Prolonged delays only benefit the accused officers, who misuse their power and resources to tamper with evidence or intimidate witnesses. Only through such institutional reforms can Punjab hope to ensure that justice is not reserved for the privileged few.

The Col. Bath case has shown that justice is possible but at a great cost. The larger question remains unanswered — how will a poor man in Punjab, who has neither money nor connections, get justice if he becomes a victim of police brutality? Until the system is reformed and independent accountability mechanisms are established, the common man’s fight for justice will remain a never-ending and hopeless struggle.