New Delhi, Aug. 18 -- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports concerning the alleged assault of journalist Balwinder Singh by two Punjab Police officers in the Batala area of Gurdaspur district.

The assault reportedly occurred on August 1, when two police personnel deployed in Batala for law and order duties ahead of Independence Day allegedly attacked Singh after he questioned their presence in the area.

A video of the incident, which surfaced on August 7 and quickly went viral, shows the journalist being brutally beaten in broad daylight on a busy street.

In the 2-minute 16-second footage, one officer in uniform and another in civilian clothes are seen repeatedly punching and kicking...