Stalker throws acid on 29-year-old beautician

LUDHIANA: A 29-year-old beautician suffered serious chemical burns when a bike-borne man who had been stalking her for months threw acid on her on Sunday evening.

The victim was on the way to the market with the owner of the beauty parlour she worked at on a scooter, when the accused, Sandeep Singh, who was the pillion rider on a bike, intercepted them and threw acid on her face.

The victim managed to cover her face with her arms and suffered burn injuries on her hands. Passersby rushed the victim to the hospital and called her parents.

Sandeep had attacked the victim with a brick three months ago, but the police had not taken any action against him, despite a complaint being lodged.

The victim told the police accused had been following her since Sunday morning. When she had left home, the accused followed her and tried to assault her with some chemical, but she evaded the attack and rushed home. “I do not feel safe. had the police arrested Sandeep three months ago, he would not have dared to throw acid on me,” she said.

Assistant sub-inspector Sukhdev Singh, who is investigating the case, said that a hunt is on for the arrest of the accused. A case has been registered under Sections 341 (wrongful restraint) , 326-A (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

The ASI added that the police had raided the accused’s house, but he is on the run and his house is locked. The police are trying to determine what acid was used and where it had been procured from.

Further he added that the police are investigating to know what acid was used in the crime and from where the accused had procured it. The things would be cleared after the arrest of the accused.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD, Amritsar) leader Paramjit Singh Rinka, alleged that women were not safe in the state and demanded stern action against the accused.

THE ACCUSED HAD ATTACKED THE VICTIM WITH A BRICK THREE MONTHS AGO, BUT THE POLICE HAD NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION AGAINST HIM DESPITE A COMPLAINT BEING LODGED