A severe case of assault and robbery has been reported at Division 2 Police Station, Jalandhar, after a violent scuffle within the compound of the Mahalaxmi Temple located on Jail Road. The occurrence, which happened in the afternoon on July 10, resulted in the booking of Councilor Gurvinder Singh Bunty, his friend Harsh Sharma, and four others—two of whom were unidentified—under various serious sections of the recently implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Incident details
As per the FIR (No. 0083, filed at 9:30 PM, July 11), the complainant, AAP leader Nikhil Arora, a resident of Singh Nagar, said that he was visiting a meeting at Mahalaxmi Temple when Councilor Bunty and his accomplices showed up. Arora claimed that when he was about to depart, Bunty—who was said to harbor earlier animosity against him—started a heated altercation, which soon turned violent.
Arora alleges that Bunty assaulted him with a confectioner's scraper, hitting him close to the neck and arm and sending him tumbling to the ground. In the struggle, Bunty allegedly relieved Arora of his 23-gram gold chain and 9-gram locket, amounting to 32 grams of gold. Meanwhile, Harsh Sharma is alleged to have pointed a pistol at Arora, with Bunty said to have provoked Harsh to shoot Arora. Two other cohorts allegedly punched and kicked Arora in the stomach.
Arora's friend, Ajay Sharma, stepped in and successfully deflected the pistol, averting further aggravation. Arora was then taken to the hospital to receive treatment for injuries.
Police action and legal sections
The FIR has been lodged under the following sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023:
- Section 115(2): Attempted murder
- Section 126(2): Robbery
- Section 351(2): Assault
- Section 304(2): Causing hurt
- Section 3(5): Use of deadly weapon
Sub-Inspector Gursharan Singh (No. 2415) has been made the investigating officer. SHO Jaswinder Singh confirmed that the case has been registered and that the investigation was underway. The FIR further mentions the involvement of two unknown accused.
Background and motive
Arora alleges that the attack was motivated by longstanding enmity, citing previous incidents where Bunty’s liquor was seized during elections and ongoing rivalry over local leadership and public support. Arora claims Bunty resented him for being approached by ward residents for assistance.
Procedural transparency
The FIR, according to official procedure, was read out to Arora, declared correct, and a copy was handed over to him free of charge. The case has been sent to the court, and the police have noted the grounds for the delay in reporting the matter.
What's next?
The police have commenced an elaborate investigation, with attempts being made to identify and arrest all suspects. The matter has attracted considerable publicity as a result of the fact that a sitting councilor was involved and that a firearm was used within a public religious setting. Residents and witnesses are urged by police to provide any information that may be useful to the investigation.