Teenager gives snatchers a tough fight in Jalandhar

Ajay Joshi
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, August 31

Exhibiting bravery, a 15-year-old girl fought miscreants, who tried to snatch her phone at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Nagar near the Jalandhar-Kapurthala Road on Sunday.

Despite being attacked with a sharp-edged weapon, she managed to catch hold of one of the snatchers. While she fought with the snatcher for a few minutes, commuters soon jumped in to her rescue and caught him. The entire incident that occurred around 2 pm was recorded in a nearby CCTV camera.

Commissioner of Police to recommend her name for bravery awards

Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar on Monday said the Police Commissionerate would send her name for the national and state bravery awards for displaying immense courage. He assured that the other accused, identified as Vinod Kumar of Railway Quarters, would also be nabbed as teams have started searching for him.

Kusum Kumari (15), a resident of Fatehpuri Mohalla, while narrating the incident to the police, said: “I was going to my home, when two bike-borne men attempted to snatch my mobile phone. The accused riding pillion grabbed my hand and took my phone away. However, I resisted and held his hand, following which I followed them on their moving bike and grabbed the pillion rider’s t-shirt. He later hit me and attacked me on the wrist with a datar. But I continued following him and later dragged him from his bike. Moments later, passersby rescued me and held the snatcher. I got my phone later.”

She has been admitted to Joshi hospital. The accused was later handed over to the police.

While speaking to The Tribune, she said: “I was heading home after tuition, when the accused came close to me. They started eve-teasing, which alerted me of their subsequent actions. I followed them till they returned my phone that I need for my studies. After grabbing the snatcher, I shouted and asked for help. Luckily, a man came and held the accused.”

Kusum is studying in Class VIII at Lala Jagat Narayan Public School. Her father is a daily wage-earner. He said his daughter received deep cuts in her veins and bones. It took two hours to complete her surgery and around 20 stitches. “Thankfully doctors are providing her free treatment, as they can’t afford to pay the hospital charges of Rs1.50 lakh. Kusum will remain admitted to the hospital for four days, her father said.

SHO police division number 2, SI Jatinder Pal Singh said, the accused was identified as Avinash Kumar (22), alias Ashu, a resident of Begumpura, Basti Danishmanda. While his associate is absconding, a case under Sections 379 B and 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC was registered against him.

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