Former Punjab MLA Jassi Khangura convicted in 2008 poll assault case

The court of Additional Sessions Judge Barinder Singh Romana has convicted former MLA Jasbir Singh, alias Jassi Khangura, and another co-accused, Gurpreet Singh, in an 18-year-old assault case linked to the 2008 Block Samiti and Zila Parishad elections.

Pronouncing the judgment in an appeal, the court sentenced both convicts to two years’ imprisonment each. A fine of Rs 3,000 each was also imposed upon the convicts, which was paid by them in the court. However, the court upheld the acquittal of 11 other co-accused in the case.

The orders came in an appeal filed by complainant Faqir Singh, challenging the acquittal of the MLA and others by the court of the then Judicial Magistrate First Class, Ludhiana, Gurpreet Kaur, on August 29, 2017.

According to the prosecution, a case was registered at Dehlon police station on May 12, 2008, on the statement of the complainant, who was serving as a presiding officer during the Block Samiti and Zila Parishad elections.

Faqir stated that on May 11, 2008, he along with other members of the polling party and a police team had been deputed at Government Senior Secondary School, Buttari village, for polling at booth no. 1. After the polling concluded on May 12, the ballot boxes were sealed in the presence of polling agents and were taken back to Government Senior Secondary School, Dehlon, for deposit.

The complainant alleged that when he reached the school premises to deposit the ballot boxes, five to seven persons confronted and manhandled him, questioning why the ballot boxes had been brought in a car. One of them allegedly called Jasbir Singh Khangura on the phone.

About 10–15 minutes later, Khangura, along with 20–25 supporters, reached the spot and allegedly abused and assaulted the complainant. The attackers allegedly slapped and punched him, removed his turban, and kicked him, while police officials later intervened to rescue him.

Faqir was taken to Civil Hospital, Dehlon, where he was medically examined and was found to have six injuries on his body, including injuries on the nose, under the left eye, left flank, elbow, and knee. He was later referred to Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, and subsequently underwent treatment at a private hospital.

After examining the evidence and hearing arguments in the appeal, the Additional Sessions Judge partly allowed the appeal by convicting the MLA and Gurpreet Singh, while maintaining the acquittal of the remaining accused.

However, both were released on bail as they made an application to challenge the conviction before the High Court.