Visit to city cost 19-yr-old athlete her career; she fights for justice

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 11

Three years after a 19-year-old district level athlete from UP was shot at outside a nightclub here, she is struggling to cope with life. A bullet in her right shoulder has rendered her upper right side useless.

In the wee hours of May 31, 2015, a group of boys had opened fire for not being allowed to enter ‘Score’ club in Sector 8. One of the bullets had hit Shilpa, who was standing nearby.

While even the complainant in the case, Surjeet Singh, a bouncer at the club, has turned hostile, Shilpa says she will fight. Surjeet refused to identify the accused but Shilpa travelled from Uttar Pradesh to record her statement in a local court.

The accused include Lakhwinder Singh of Ferozepur, Sharanpreet Singh of Ludhiana, Kamaldeep Singh of Ferozepur and Kinderveer Singh of Tarn Taran. They were booked under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 212 (harbouring offender), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the Indian Penal Code and under Sections 25-27-54-59 of the Arms Act.

With tears in her eyes, Shilpa told the court how her whole life has been spoilt. She cannot use her right hand at all; she cannot perform even basic functions like having food or changing clothes herself. Before the incident, she was a district-level athlete and earned over Rs 20,000 by taking tuitions. She had been awarded a Rs 13 lakh scholarship to study in USA after school but destiny had other plans.

Shilpa informs that she was in the city at the time to get her passport made. She had come to meet a friend at Score and was waiting for a cab to return at around 2 am. However, a group of boys started quarrelling with bouncers and were not allowed inside. The matter escalated and one of the accused took out a pistol from their car and started firing. One of the bullets hit Shilpa who was standing in the parking lot. She hid inside the club and was later taken to a hospital.

Shilpa informs that she remained in various hospitals for eight months and is still taken to different doctors across the country by her parents. However, doctors say that a full recovery may not be possible.

She told the court that she was followed all the way to the court room and was pressurised not to give a statement against the accused. However, she did so and said that she was not afraid of even death.

Spent over Rs 20 lakh on treatment, family in debt

Shilpa informs that her parents have spent over Rs 20 lakh in three years for her treatment. Her monthly expenditure on medicines alone is close to Rs 35,000. “We have sold property and jewellery and have a massive debt,” says Shilpa, while adding that her life has been ruined for no fault of hers. Having thrice attempted suicide, Shilpa says that she has now accepted that nothing can be undone. “I will take back the case if they can give me back my normal life,” adds Shilpa.