Jashan Gill, another Punjab pastor in spotlight: Accused of rape, abortion, bribing police
After facing scrutiny in Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal attack cases, the Punjab Police’s actions have now come under the scanner in an incident involving Jashan Gill, a self-styled pastor in Gurdaspur.
The father of a 22-year-old woman has accused Jashan of allegedly raping his daughter, impregnating her and forcing her to undergo an unsafe abortion, which led to her death.
Demanding a CBI probe into the entire episode, the man alleged that the pastor bribed the local police, following which no action was taken against him despite his complaint.
Speaking to ANI, the man alleged that his daughter, a BCA student then, was "misled" by the pastor.
#WATCH | Chandigarh | Gurdaspur pastor Jashan Gill has been accused of raping a 22-year-old and forcing her to undergo an abortion which allegedly led to her death, the victim's father says, "We used to go to a church in Abul Khair village of Gurdaspur district with our family. A… pic.twitter.com/q8EXuN9z3E
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2025
"Our family used to visit a church at Abul Khair village in Gurdaspur district. Pastor Jashan misled my daughter and raped her repeatedly. My daughter was 22 then and a BCA student. He impregnated her and later forced her to undergo an abortion by a nurse in Khokhar village," the man told ANI.
Accusing the nurse of medical negligence, the man said, "The abortion was performed carelessly, following which my daughter developed complications... She complained of stomach pain and had to be admitted to hospital... After an ultrasound, we came to know that my daughter had undergone an abortion. She was later shifted to an Amritsar hospital where she died during treatment."
The man said the police were yet to arrest the pastor. "The police have not arrested him despite the incident happening in 2023. He continues to roam freely," he said.
The woman’s father alleged that he had received multiple threats and now feared for his safety. He said he had even approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, demanding a CBI inquiry into the case.
"I had been receiving threats, so I left my village. I want justice for my daughter. The Punjab Police did nothing. I demand a CBI inquiry. I have also approached the high court," he said.
A Mohali court had last week sentenced another self-styled pastor, Bajinder Singh, to life imprisonment in a 2018 sexual harassment case.
The Punjab Police had registered an FIR against Bajinder after a complaint was filed by a woman alleging assault. The incident reportedly took place after a prayer session where the survivor claimed that she, along with others, was mistreated and physically assaulted.
