Hoshiarpur man robbed of Rs 5 lakh, cops argue over jurisdiction before filing FIR

Delaying the probe into a loot incident, the police of two districts, SBS Nagar (Nawanshahr) and Hoshiarpur, called the revenue officials on the crime spot to decide upon the jurisdiction, for first information report (FIR) registration.

The victim Vishal Sharma,25, of ward number-12 in Garshankar, Hoshiarpur was carrying Rs 5 lakh in a bag. He was on his way to SBS Nagar to purchase a new car.

When Sharma reached area between Chauhra and Bheen village, three unidentified bike-borne miscreants snatched his bag and fled from the spot.

Getting information, a police party from Garhshankar arrived at the spot. But the cops denied to proceed further citing that the area falls under SBS Nagar jurisdiction.

Following this,Nawanshahr sadar police reached the spot but did not lodge the FIR citing the same reason as Garhshankar police, further delaying the probe.

To end the jurisdiction row, patwari from both districts were called. They measured the area and found that it falls in Bheen village under SBS Nagar district. The Chauhra village is in Hoshiarpur district.

The victim’s statement was recorded after the delay for an hour. Station house officer (SHO) Nawanshahr sadar police station inspector Gurmukh Singh said, “We have started the investigation and are examining the victim’s statement.”

He said that FIR will be registered after completing other legal formalities.

SHO Garhshankar police station inspector Balwinder Singh said, “We were on a patrol when we got the information. We reached the spot but as the area comes under SBS Nagar district, we did not start investigation.”

The victim was commuting through the village roads due to the bad condition of Nawanshahr-Garhshankar main road. A resident on the condition of anonymity said, “The robbers had gone far away till the cops started the investigation.”