An 18-year-old girl stands the risk of losing her eyesight after an acid attack by her jilted lover and his sister in East Delhi’s Gandhi Nagar on Thursday evening.
With 40 per cent burns to her face, chest and limbs, the victim is undergoing treatment at the GTB Hospital. The police quoted doctors as saying that she would survive the assault.
The accused persons have been identified as Radhe Ram and Anita.
Sole breadwinner
The victim is the eldest of six siblings, and is the sole breadwinner among them. Her father is bed-ridden with tuberculosis, while her mother works at a tailor’s shop.
Rishi Pal, DCP (East), said Ram and the girl were in a relationship for the last one year.
The girl’s family, however, denied the relationship aspect but said that Ram would often visit their home.
The duo had come in contact during their visit to Haridwar as Kanwariyas last year. They had turned friends, but the girl was not keen to marry Ram, said the DCP.
“The girl has told us that she was being pressured by Ram and his sister to marry him. The acid attack appears to be over the victim’s refusal to marry,” said the DCP.
Planning attack
The victim works at a factory in Gandhi Nagar. On Thursday, Anita had called her to ask when she would leave for home.
“When she revealed that she had already left, they wanted to know the route she would take,” said the victim’s aunt.
As the girl neared Dhundhela Chowk, she was intercepted by Ram and Anita. They again made the offer of marriage and asked the victim to accompany them to a temple in Ghaziabad.
“When my daughter refused, Ram held her from behind while Anita threw a glassful of acid on her face. My daughter collapsed right there,” said the girl’s mother.
The victim was helped to her home by a passerby after which the police were called.
Hunt on
Ram and his sister are absconding. The East Delhi district police have formed teams to nab them.
Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal called on the girl on Friday. A DCW counsellor has been deputed to ensure that the victim gets medication on time.
