The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the assault of a journalist by two policemen in Gurdaspur’s Batala and sought a detailed report from the Punjab DGP within two weeks.
The two officers were suspended shortly after the video of the incident on August 1 went viral.
The two police personnel were deployed in Batala ahead of Independence Day. When the journalist posed questions regarding their presence, the officers were allegedly enraged and assaulted Singh. A video of the incident shows the journalist lying motionless on the ground, while the officers are seen walking away following the assault.
Journalist Balvinder Kumar Bhalla was brutally assaulted in Batala on Aug 1 for questioning 2 cops — a chilling blow to freedom of press under AAP rule in Punjab; FIR registered against Police officials https://t.co/k2hvxU43jM
— Megh Updates ™ (@MeghUpdates) August 6, 2025
The NHRC has sought details about the status of the investigation and the victim’s health.
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