Man who attacked 15-yr-old girl sent to 3-day police remand

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 1

Cops have intensified the search operation of the second accused, who is still at large, a day after a 15-year-old girl fearlessly fought snatchers who tried snatching her mobile phone.

Jalandhar braveheart Kusum to get Rs 51,000

Investigation in charge, SI Jatinder Pal Singh, SHO police division number 2, said accused Avinash Kumar (22), alias Ashu, who was arrested yesterday, was summoned at the district court on Tuesday and has been sent on police remand for three days.

Read also: Teenager gives snatchers a tough fight in Jalandhar

Before sending him on police remand, the cops took Avinash for his medical and Covid test, the reports of which will arrive in two days. Notably, Avinash is the main accused, who hit the victim with a sharp-edged weapon (datar) that injured her left wrist badly. He has been charged under Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 379 B of the IPC.

The other accused, identified as Vinod Kumar, is a resident of railway quarters and is still absconding.

On Sunday evening, Kusum Kumari, in a bid to save her phone from being snatched, at Deen Dayal Upadhay Nagar, near Jalandhar-Kapurthala Road, gave a tough fight to snatchers and continued to fight until she got her phone back. Despite being attacked by datar multiple times, she didn’t let one of the snatchers go and finally got him arrested with the help of a few passersby. The entire incident was recorded in a CCTV camera, the footage of which went viral on the internet on Monday.

She has been receiving appreciation from every part of the country and Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar also announced to send her name for national and state level bravery awards.

Kusum is presently admitted to a private hospital, which is providing her free treatment. Her father Sadhu Ram, who is a daily wage earner, said she would remain in the hospital for three more days and her injuries would recover after a month.

In recognition of the exemplary courage and bravery shown by Kusum, DC Ghanshyam Thori has announced a cash award of Rs51,000 for her. Thori said the cash award would be given to Kusum by using Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. He said women empowerment was all the more important for the development of the country and prosperity of its people, adding that this would help transform the destiny of the country in general and that of women in particular.

District Programme Officer Gurminder Singh Randhawa said the mascot on the name of the braveheart Kusum would be unveiled soon, as the team of the department was in talks with her family.

A day after the bravery reports of teenage girl Kusum appeared in the papers, Angad Dutta, Youth Congress president Jalandhar, along with other office-bearers met her at Joshi Hospital, where she was taking treatment.

He lauded her courageous act to fight against armed snatchers. He said her story would be an inspiration to the youth and all others in society. He also assured the family that he would discuss the matter with CM Punjab Capt Amarinder Singh and with their PYC president Barinder Singh Dhillon for getting some scholarship for the brave girl of Jalandhar.

Former BJP minister Manoranjan Kalia also inquired about the health of Kusum. He went to the hospital along with Dr Mukesh Joshi, Rajat Mohindru and Rajiv Walia.