Mohali, February 20:
A horrifying case has emerged from Kharar, Mohali, where a student from Shimla, studying at Punjab University, was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint and sexually assaulted. The victim has accused a car dealer from Sector-88, identified as village sarpanch Harjeet Singh Baidwan alias Preet, and his accomplices of committing this heinous crime.
According to the student, he was brutally tortured, subjected to electric shocks on his private parts, and assaulted with a stick. The perpetrators allegedly filmed the entire incident and used the footage to blackmail him. They forced him to transfer ₹30,000 to their account and coerced him into recording a video falsely claiming to sell his XUV-500 car. Additionally, they made him sign a cheque under duress and demanded a ransom of ₹4 lakh.
Mentally and emotionally devastated, the victim decided to end his life. Feeling humiliated and helpless, he recorded a video narrating his ordeal and expressing his desire to die. He sent the video to some friends, bringing the case to light.
In his complaint, the victim stated that Harjeet Singh Baidwan, a resident of Ramnagar village in Rajpura, and his accomplice Karam Dev Singh alias Simarjeet Singh had been pressuring him for a long time to work at their office and handle their RTO-related tasks. He also revealed that they threatened him over booking a VIP number plate (0009), which was beyond his control.
The incident occurred on January 11, two days before Lohri, when Harjeet and Karam Dev suddenly arrived at his flat and started threatening him. Fearing for his safety, the student called his landlord for help. However, as soon as he opened the door, both accused forced their way inside and tried to drag him away. They seized his bag, cash, and important documents before kidnapping him in a Scorpio vehicle. CCTV footage from his society captured the entire abduction. On the way, Harjeet allegedly pointed a revolver at him and forced him to unlock his mobile phone.
The accused took him to Preet Car Point in Sector-88, where they locked him in a room. There, Karam Dev transferred ₹30,000 from his mobile and recorded a video while sexually assaulting him. Despite his repeated pleas for mercy, the perpetrators continued torturing him. They demanded ₹4 lakh in ransom, promising to release him only if he complied. When the student refused, Harjeet and Karam Dev took him back to his flat and forced him to stand beside his XUV-500, filming a video where he falsely claimed to be selling them the car for ₹3.5 lakh. They also made him sign a cheque under duress and threatened to kill him if he reported the incident.
Traumatized by the ordeal, the victim decided to commit suicide. On January 19, he went to Pinjore with the intention of ending his life. He recorded a tearful video detailing his suffering and sent it to his acquaintances. Fortunately, some people intervened just in time and saved him, but he lost consciousness. When he regained consciousness on January 21, he found himself in Shimla police custody.
Shimla police conducted his medical examination and recorded his statement. They then filed a Zero FIR and transferred the case to Kharar police for further action. Given the severity of the incident, Kharar police have registered a case against sarpanch Harjeet Singh Baidwan alias Preet and his two accomplices. Investigation teams have been formed to track and arrest the accused.
The victim and his family are now demanding justice. This incident has exposed the increasing violence and exploitation faced by young individuals. Public pressure is mounting on law enforcement authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure swift punishment for the perpetrators.
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