Girl attacked with acid for rejecting marriage offer

An 18-year-old girl suffered burn injuries and was unable to open her eyes after her friend’s sister allegedly threw acid at her for refusing her brother’s marriage proposal in east Delhi’s Gandhi Nagar on Thursday evening.

The girl sustained 40 per cent burns on her face, chest and limbs. She was admitted to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital and her condition is serious, but she is out of danger.

In her statement to the police, the girl alleged that her friend, Radhe Ram, was also present at the spot when his sister Anita allegedly hurled acid on her. Ram allegedly held her from behind as Anita threw a glass of acid on her face. The brother-sister duo were allegedly forcing her to accompany them to a temple in Ghaziabad and marry Ram.

A senior police officer said Anita and Ram are absconding after the attack and police teams have been formed to trace and arrest them. One team has been sent to locate their home in Ghaziabad. The duo have been booked under Section 326A (acid throwing) of the IPC in an FIR was registered at the Gandhi Nagar police station.

A local, who knew the girl, helped her to reach home. The family called the police control room before taking her to the hospital.

The accused duo, residents of Ghaziabad, are known to the victim. Ram befriended the girl in Hardwar last year during a visit, said a police officer. Ram developed a one-sided affection for the girl and proposed to her. The proposal was, however, reportedly turned down, the police added.

Infuriated by the rejection, the accused with the help of his sister, allegedly attacked the girl, said the police.

According to the mother, the victim works in an import-export factory in Gandhi Nagar. She earns Rs 6,000 per month. Eldest among three sisters, she is the only earning member supporting her family of six. Her father is suffering from tuberculosis.

“Ram had met my daughter and husband last year when they had gone to Hardwar on Kanwar yatra. He befriended them and they exchanged numbers. Ram started visiting us since then, but we did not know he wanted to marry my daughter,” the girl’s mother said. The victim knew Anita as she had worked with her for a brief period in the same factory.

At around 3 pm on Thursday, Anita called the victim and told her she wanted to meet her. Around 7 pm, Anita again called her and asked what route she was taking to return home. “My daughter told Anita that she was near Dhundhela Chowk. Anita and Ram arrived there and stopped my daughter. Anita asked her to accompany them to Ghaziabad and marry Ram in a temple. When she refused, Ram grabbed her behind and Anita threw acid on my daughter’s face,” said the girl’s mother. The two fled the crime scene, leaving the injured girl screaming in pain.

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal visited the victim. “Ms Maliwal met the medical superintendent to access the status of the victim and found shockingly that her care had been neglected. It was learnt that her bandages had not been changed since 10 pm last night,” said a senior DCW officer.

After the commission’s intervention, the victim was shifted to a private ward, said the DCW official. “Girl burnt badly, eyes not opening. Met MS GTB, hv got girl shifted to private ward. DCW will ensure proper treatment to the girl n justice,” Ms Maliwal later tweeted.