A 20-year-old Delhi University student was attacked with acid by a stalker outside Laxmibai College in Ashok Vihar on Sunday, Hindustan Times reported. The student, who is enrolled in the School of Open Learning, suffered burns on both hands.
According to police, the attack took place when the young woman was walking to the college for extra classes. Three men on a motorcycle approached her, threw acid, and fled from the spot, India Today reported.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Bhisham Singh said that the woman identified one of the attackers as a man from her neighbourhood in Mukundpur. “He came on a bike with his friends Ishan and Armaan. Ishan allegedly handed over a bottle to Armaan, who threw acid on the woman,” Singh told Hindustan Times.
The student managed to protect her face but sustained burns on her hands. She was first taken to Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital and later shifted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for further treatment.
Police said the main accused had been stalking and harassing her for some time. “About a month ago, a heated argument had taken place between them after she rejected his advances,” DCP Singh said.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita based on the survivor’s statement. The three accused are currently absconding.
In a new twist, India Today reported that the wife of the main accused has filed a counter-complaint against the survivor’s father, accusing him of sexual assault and blackmail. She alleged that the woman’s father had raped her and sent obscene photographs to her husband. Police have said that an FIR will be registered based on her statement.
Acid attacks remain a serious issue in India despite regulations. In 2013, the Supreme Court had ordered strict rules for the sale of corrosive substances, including keeping buyer records and banning sales to minors. In 2015, the Delhi government expanded the list of regulated acids to tighten controls further.
However, as cases like this show, unregulated acid sales continue to enable such brutal crimes.
