Police post in village, but cops lack jurisdiction

* After restructuring 2 years ago, Kohrian placed under police station located 13 km away

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, January 2

*On November 6 night, some persons damaged an ATM, located near the Kohrian police post, but an FIR was registered at Chhajli police station, located 13 km away.

*There have been repeated thefts in shops near Kohrian police post, but shopkeepers have to go to Chhajli police station to lodge a complaint.

It sounds unbelievable, but it is true that Kohrian does not fall under the jurisdiction of the police post located in the village. It’s perhaps the only village of Punjab, where cops cannot take action for a crime taking place at their doorstep.

“Frequent thefts are taking place in shops located at a short distance from the local police post, but local policemen can’t do anything about it. Since our village falls under the Chhajli police station, thieves are having a free run. We have requested the police authorities many times to put the village under the local police post, but there has been no action so far,” said Raghuvir Singh, a shopkeeper.

Sarpanch Gurpreet Singh said earlier the village was in the jurisdiction of the Kohrian police post, but during a restructuring around two years ago, it was put under the Chhajli police station, located 13 km away.

“In 1991, the police created a post in the community centre here for the safety of villagers. However, without any valid reason, the village was put in the jurisdiction of the Chhajli police station, and since then thefts have increased,” said Gurpreet.

Requesting anonymity, policemen in Kohrian said they wanted to help the villagers, but were helpless as the village did not fall under their jurisdiction.

“Without having jurisdiction, how can we take legal action,” said a cop.

Sangrur SSP Sandeep Garg said, “We have written to the Home Department to restore the earlier jurisdiction of Kohrian village. We are pursuing the matter at the highest level. I have also directed the Chhajli police station to quickly look into the complaints of Kohrian villagers and conduct patrolling also.”

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“In 1991, the police created a post in the community centre at Kohrian village for the safety of locals. However, without any valid reason, the village was put in the jurisdiction of the Chhajli police station, and since then thefts have increased,” said Gurpreet Singh, sarpanch