A court in Faridkot, Punjab, has denied anticipatory bail to five individuals accused in a week-old petrol pump assault case. The decision comes as police continue their efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects involved in the incident, which has drawn strong condemnation and prompted threats of a statewide fuel station shutdown.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Additional Sessions Judge Krishan Kant Jain dismissed the anticipatory bail applications of Gurveer Singh Kanda, also known as Ginni Kanda; Harpreet Singh Kanda, also known as Happy Kanda; Malkit Singh, also known as Malkit Kanda; Gurpreet Singh Khurmi; and Dalbeer Singh, also known as Deep Kanda. The court determined that the applicants were not entitled to the concession of anticipatory bail.
The court’s observation indicated that it was prima facie established that the accused party arrived as a group, acting under a pre-planned conspiracy on June 8. The assault on petrol pump employees occurred without any instigation from their side, causing grievous injuries.
The violent incident that led to the legal proceedings took place on June 8, when a group of approximately 24 to 25 armed individuals reportedly arrived at a petrol pump in Faridkot. They allegedly launched a premeditated attack on the staff. Employee Bikramjit Singh, identified as Raja, was reportedly the first to be targeted. When the manager, Mandeep Singh, intervened, the attackers allegedly dragged him away and beat him severely, resulting in a fractured arm. In total, eleven injuries were recorded on the complainant’s person, and four on Bikramjit Singh.
A case has been registered by the police under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the City Faridkot police station. Investigators believe the assault stemmed from a dispute that occurred on June 6, when Gurveer Singh Kanda allegedly visited the same petrol pump and engaged in an altercation with an employee over the air-filling of a vehicle. Although the matter was reportedly settled on that day, the accused are alleged to have returned two days later with a larger group seeking retribution.
CCTV footage capturing the June 8 attack went viral on social media platforms, eliciting widespread public outrage. Following the incident, the Petrol Pump Owners’ Association, led by its president Ashok Sachar, submitted a memorandum to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and the Deputy Commissioner (DC). The association expressed disappointment over the slow pace of arrests, with only one arrest reportedly made at the time of their statement, highlighting concerns about the safety of fuel station staff.
In response to the court’s denial of bail and the ongoing police investigation, the Petrol Pump Owners’ Association has reportedly hardened its stance. The association has threatened to cease operations at all fuel stations across the state in protest against the perceived slow progress in apprehending all individuals involved in the assault. The police have stated that they are conducting raids at various locations to apprehend the remaining suspects and have indicated their commitment to bringing all perpetrators to justice.
The Chenab Times News Desk