A Jalandhar court has sentenced two men to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment each for attacking Kusum Kumari, who was 15 years old at the time, with a sharp-edged weapon during a mobile phone snatching incident in 2020. Kusum was honoured with the National Bravery Award in 2023 for her courage in confronting the attacker.
Additional Sessions Judge Parminder Singh Rai convicted Avinash Kumar alias Ashu and Vinod Kumar alias Jhikka under Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 379-B (snatching) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Vinod was also convicted under Section 411 for possessing stolen property.
Court imposes fines on both convicts
The court imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on each convict under Section 307 and ₹20,000 each under Section 379-B. Vinod was additionally sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment and fined ₹5,000 under Section 411. The judgment also provides for additional imprisonment in case of failure to pay the fines.
Kusum attacked while returning from tuition
The incident took place on August 30, 2020, when Kusum was returning home after attending tuition classes. A motorcycle-borne snatcher allegedly took her mobile phone near Shivjyoti Park in Deen Dayal Upadhyay Nagar.
Kusum chased the snatcher and caught hold of his shirt. The attacker then allegedly struck her with a sharp-edged weapon, aiming at her head. She raised her left arm to protect herself and suffered a serious wrist injury.
She was rushed to a private hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery. The treating doctor told the court that the injury was bone-deep and had severed tendons in her wrist, fingers and thumb.
Viral video brought recognition for her courage
A video of the incident went viral on social media, drawing widespread appreciation for Kusum’s courage. In 2023, she received the National Bravery Award in recognition of her actions.
The then Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had praised her bravery and announced financial assistance of ₹1 lakh, which was provided through the district administration. The then Jalandhar Police Commissioner, Gurpreet Bhullar, also extended financial assistance of ₹50,000 and gave her a new mobile phone.
The district administration later dedicated a graffiti to Kusum under the PAP flyover and announced her as a brand ambassador for the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao mission.
At the time of the attack, Kusum was a Class VIII student at Lala Jagat Narayan DAV Model School.
Court cites witness statements and forensic evidence
In its judgment, the court relied on the consistent testimonies of Kusum and two neighbourhood residents who witnessed the incident and helped apprehend Avinash. The judge observed that their cross-examinations had not revealed anything substantial to undermine their credibility.
The court also considered the recovery of the weapon and motorcycle, CCTV-related photographic evidence and a forensic science laboratory report, which supported the prosecution’s case.
The sentence brings the case to a significant stage, recognising the seriousness of the attack on Kusum, whose courage during the incident later earned her national recognition.