Jalandhar Court Sentences Two Men to 10 Years in Prison for Attacking Kusum During Mobile Snatching

A court in Jalandhar has sentenced two men to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment each for attacking Kusum Kumari, who was 15 years old at the time, during an attempted mobile phone snatching incident in 2020.
Additional Sessions Judge Parminder Singh Rai convicted Avinash Kumar, alias Ashu, and Vinod Kumar, alias Jhikka, under Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 379-B (snatching) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The court also convicted Vinod Kumar under Section 411 of the IPC for possessing stolen property. Both convicts were fined ₹50,000 each under Section 307 and ₹20,000 each under Section 379-B. Vinod was separately sentenced to two years of imprisonment and fined ₹5,000 under Section 411.
Attack Took Place in August 2020
The incident occurred on August 30, 2020, when Kusum, a Class VIII student at Lala Jagat Narain DAV Model School, was returning home after attending tuition classes.
Near Shiv Jyoti Park in Deen Dayal Upadhyay Nagar, two motorcycle-borne men allegedly attempted to snatch her mobile phone. Kusum showed courage and chased one of the men, grabbing his shirt in an effort to stop him.
During the struggle, the attacker struck her on the head with a sharp-edged weapon. When Kusum raised her left arm to protect herself, she suffered a deep wound to her wrist that severed nerves. She had to undergo emergency surgery at a private hospital.
Kusum Received National Bravery Award in 2023
A video of Kusum’s courageous response went viral on social media. In recognition of her bravery, she received the National Bravery Award in 2023.
The then Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, praised her courage and provided financial assistance of ₹1 lakh. The then Police Commissioner, Gurpreet Bhullar, also gave her ₹50,000 and a new mobile phone.
The district administration had a graffiti mural depicting Kusum created beneath the PAP flyover. She was also appointed brand ambassador for the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign.
Evidence Considered by the Court
The court based its verdict on the statements of Kusum and two neighbours who were present at the scene, along with CCTV photographs, the recovered weapon and motorcycle, and a forensic laboratory report.
The judgment brings the criminal proceedings against the two men in the mobile-snatching attack to a sentencing stage, more than six years after the incident.