A Mohali court on Tuesday awarded life imprisonment to Punjab pastor Baljinder Singh in 2018 Zirakpur rape case. Court has pronunced his conviction last weeek.
Pastor Bajinder was convicted under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
Five other accused in the case—pastor Jatinder, pastor Akbar, Sattar Ali, and Sandeep Pehalwan— were acquitted.
Reacting to this vedict victim said “He (Bajinder) is a psycho and will do the same offense after coming out of jail, so I want him to stay in the prison. A lot of girls (victims) have won today. I request that DGP ensure our security since there is a possibility of attacks on us.”
Earlier victim demanded at least 20 years of impprisonment for the accused.
Advocate Anil Sagar, counsel for the victim “There is a punishment of 10-20 years for the offense of rape depending upon the circumstances of the case. In this case, I pray for the highest quantum because this person used to lure people in the name of religion. It is important to punish him exemplarily. I hope that after this, the girls who are facing such crimes will come forth and speak about the atrocities,” he said.
The case back to 2018 when a women from Zirakpur complaind against Baljinder Singh that he sexually assaulted her under the pretence of helping her travel abroad.