Farmers Protest | Why Was Zero FIR Registered When Injured Protestor Alleged He Was Picked Up From Punjab By Haryana Police? HC Asks Punjab Govt

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has asked the Punjab Government to apprise the Court why Zero FIR was registered on the incident when the injured protestor specifically alleged that he was picked up from the territory of Punjab and taken to the territory of Haryana, where he was beaten up mercilessly by the Haryana Police.

Protestor Pritpal Singh's father had moved a habeas corpus petition alleging that the Haryana Police picked up his son from within the boundaries of Punjab for being part of a "peaceful farmers agitation" on February 21.

An affidavit denying these allegations was filed by the Haryana government. It claimed the youth was found severely injured in the fields adjoining the barricades installed at the borders of the two states and he was immediately taken to hospital.

However, in a statement recorded by CJM ( on March 14), Pritpal alleged that he was forcibly taken away from the territory of Punjab in District Sangrur by the Haryana police towards the Haryana side and was given merciless beatings.

In pursuance of the previous order, the Punjab Government submitted that a Zero FIR has been lodged on the alleged incident based on Preetpal's statement against unknown persons.

Justice Harkesh Manuja noted that Punjab Police submitted in the present hearing that the FIR in question had been registered without consulting the medical records of the injured as the same were not available with them.

Consequently, the Court said, "AAG Punjab to get specific instructions as regards providing of the complete medical record of injured-Pritpal Singh to the investigating agency and also to apprise the Court that once the officer concerned while registering the aforementioned FIR was of the view that cognizable offence is made out, based on the statement of injured, as to why Zero FIR...has been registered regarding the incident, especially when the injured specifically alleges in his statement dated 14.03.2024, that he was picked up from the territory of Punjab and taken to the territory of Haryana, where he was beaten up mercilessly."

The matter is listed for April 09, for further consideration.

Ish Puneet Singh, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Chetan Sharma, Deputy Advocate General, Haryana for respondent Nos. 1 & 3.

Siddharath Sandhu, Assistant Advocate General, Punjab for respondent Nos. 2 & 4.

Title: DAVINDER SINGH v. STATE OF HARYANA AND OTHERS

Click here to read/download the order