Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], April 5 (ANI): A self-styled pastor from Gurdaspur, Punjab, Jashan Gill, has been accused of repeatedly raping a 22-year-old woman and coercing her into undergoing an unsafe abortion, according to allegations made by the victim’s family.
The woman, a Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) student at the time of the alleged incidents, was reportedly misled by the pastor, who gained the family’s trust through his church in Abul Khair village, Gurdaspur district.
Speaking to ANI, the woman’s father, who chose to remain anonymous, said, “We used to attend church services at Abul Khair village. Pastor Jashan Gill misled my daughter, raped her multiple times, and made her pregnant. He then forced her to undergo an abortion at the hands of a nurse in Khokhar village.”
The father further alleged that the abortion was performed negligently, leading to a serious infection. “My daughter started experiencing severe stomach pain. She was admitted to a hospital, and during an ultrasound, we learned she had undergone an abortion. We took her to Amritsar for treatment, but she died there,” he said.
Adding to the distress, the father accused the local police of inaction and corruption, claiming that Pastor Gill bribed officials to avoid arrest. “He’s still roaming freely. The incident happened in 2023, and police have taken no serious action. They’re taking bribes from him,” he alleged.
Fearing for his safety after receiving threats, the father says he has been forced to leave his village and is now seeking justice through legal channels. “I have approached the Punjab High Court demanding a CBI inquiry. The Punjab Police has failed us,” he stated.
This case emerges just days after a Mohali court sentenced another self-styled pastor, Bajinder Singh, to life imprisonment in a separate 2018 sexual assault case. Singh was convicted on April 1 after a woman accused him of assault following a prayer session.
The latest case raises further questions about the accountability of religious figures and the handling of sexual assault allegations by law enforcement in the region. (ANI)
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