Bengal acid attacks kill 2 women

Three women became the target of acid attacks which killed two of them, including a deaf and mute woman on whom acid was thrown by the same accused who allegedly raped her earlier. The three incidents took place in Nadia, Hooghly and Burdwan.

The deaf and mute woman lived at Notunpara in Tehatta of Nadia. On Saturday night when she was asleep at home, one of her neighbours, Sudhir Biswas, allegedly threw acid on her through the window and fled.

The victim, in her mid-twenties, suffered severe burn injuries on her waist and back but could not alert her family members due to her disabilities. Early on Sunday her elder brother found her writing in pain and rushed her to Tehatta Sub Division Hospital. He said that throwing of acid caused a hole in the mosquito net.

As his sister’s condition worsened, she was shifted to Shaktinagar District Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries in the morning. Her uncle alleged that Sudhir, who had raped her nearly a month ago, was involved in the acid attack.

He claimed, “We were away from home to attend a festival. Taking the advantage of our absence Sudhir forcibly took her to his home and raped her there. We later lodged a complaint with the police but no step was taken. Later, two petitions were filed to the sub-divisional officer. The police started its inquiry nearly two weeks later and did not arrest Sudhir.”

According to the victim’s family, the accused put pressure on them to withdraw their complaint. However, they did not withdraw their complaint.

This time, they lodged a complaint to the police against Sudhir again. But the police suspect the victim was set on fire and has claimed to have found kerosene in her room.

Superintendent of police (Nadia) Sheesh Ram Jhajharia said, “It appears that the woman suffered burn injuries which led her to death. We are investigating if she was set on fire by others or by herself. Simultaneously, her family’s complaint is also being looked into.”

The body was sent for post-mortem. Meanwhile a widow, who was attacked with acid, died of burn injuries at M.R. Bangur Hospital.

On July 25 night she woke up from sleep after hearing knocks on the door of her home in Tarakeshwar of Hooghly and went out to check. A man, Noor Ali, threw acid on her and fled. Her son, who was near her, also suffered burn injuries due to acid. The woman was rushed to Tarakeshwar Grameen Hospital.

As her condition turned critical, she was shifted to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital and later to M.R. Bangur Hospital.

Her family alleged that she was attacked by Noor for refusing his indecent proposals. Noor was later arrested by the police.

In Burdwan’s Kalna, another woman faced acid attack by four youth for refusing their indecent proposals.

On the night of August 3, when the 32-year-old homemaker was sleeping with her mother-in-law, the quartet threw acid on her through the window.

She lodged a complaint with the police against the four accused: Sanat Pal, Basudeb Mondal, Subrata Barik and Sunil Ghosh on Saturday.

Chairperson of the West Bengal Commission for Women Sunanda Mukherjee strongly condemned the incidents and said, “Such attacks on women should not be allowed to continue.”