A court in Ludhiana has delivered a stern verdict, sentencing six individuals to seven years of rigorous imprisonment each for a brutal attempt to murder a man. The attack was a direct retaliation after the victim's daughter filed legal cases accusing her husband of demanding dowry and domestic violence.
The Gruesome Attack and Swift Conviction
The court of Additional Sessions Judge Harvinder Singh pronounced the sentence, also imposing fines on all convicts. Surjit Thakur was fined Rs 11,500, while the other five—Hunardeep Singh, Daljeet Singh, Raghav Chandok, Charanjeet Singh, and Sunny Sharma—were each fined Rs 12,000. All are residents of Haibowal Khurd in Ludhiana.
The case dates back to October 5, 2015. The victim, Subhash Chand, an attendant at MS Randhawa Library in PAU, was on his scooter to pick up his wife. Near Dargah Road close to Sunet Shah Bali, he was intercepted by his son-in-law, Surjit Thakur, and five others. Armed with sharp weapons, the group allegedly launched a vicious assault on Subhash Chand's instructions from Surjit.
Surjit initiated the attack, causing Subhash to fall. Three others then struck him with sickles and knives on his left leg and knee. The assailants continued to kick and punch him, leaving him bleeding heavily. Believing him to be dead, they fled the scene. He was later discovered by two PRSC employees, Gurcharan Singh and Hoshiar Singh, who rushed him to PAU hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was subsequently referred to DMC Hospital for advanced treatment.
Motive: Pressure to Withdraw Legal Cases
The prosecution successfully established that the primary motive behind this heinous crime was to intimidate and pressure Subhash Chand's family. The aim was to force them to withdraw the dowry demand and domestic violence cases that his daughter had filed against her husband, Surjit Thakur, and his family.
The PAU police initially registered the case on October 10, 2015, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons, wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, rioting, and unlawful assembly. The serious charge of attempt to murder under Section 307 was added during the course of the investigation.
Court Rejects Defence, Upholds Prosecution's Case
During the trial, all the accused pleaded innocence, claiming they had been falsely implicated. However, the court found their defence lacking in credibility. The judgment noted a critical point: the accused had neither filed any formal complaint nor approached higher police authorities after the incident to protest their alleged false implication.
The court observed, "Had the accused been innocent, they would have raised a hue and cry against his false implication. No plausible explanation or justification is forthcoming." This observation significantly weakened their claim of being framed.
After examining all evidence and testimonies, the court concluded that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. This led to the conviction of all six accused. The sentencing underscores the judiciary's firm stance against crimes linked to dowry harassment and domestic violence, sending a clear message that such acts of vengeance will be met with severe punishment.
