‘Drug addict’ held for slashing DU student with blade

THE 18YEAR STUDENT HAD RECEIVED 38 STITCHES ON HER WAIST. THE MAN REPORTEDLY TOLD THE POLICE HE WAS HIGH ON DRUGS

An alleged drug addict was on Saturday arrested for attacking a Delhi University student with a sharp weapon during a snatching attempt in north Delhi’s Timarpur two days ago.

The 18-year student had received 38 stitches on her waist. The man reportedly told the police he was high on drugs and accidentally slashed the woman’s waist while trying to cut off her bag on Thursday.

Police said they rounded up over half-a-dozen suspects. Their photo were shown to the woman who identified the attacker. Police are yet to recover the weapon, possibly a blade.

Police said that the man, 22-year-old Sanjeet alias Sannu, has a record of snatching. He was involved in three robberies with assault and one burglary case registered against him at the Timarpur police station.

The three robberies and assault cases were filed in 2016. He committed the burglary this year and was arrested but came out on bail on July 8, police said.

Jatin Narwal, deputy commissioner of police (north), said Sanjeet is addicted to alcohol and drugs and his family had thrown him out of their house around four years ago.

“Sanjeet’s family disowned him. He initially started living at his friends’ home but later became a vagabond. To meet his addiction for alcohol and drugs, he started committing robberies and even attacked victims,” said Narwal.

The officer said Sanjeet claimed he was trying to cut the DU student’s backpack when she suddenly turned back and he ended up injuring her.

The woman screamed in pain and raised an alarm.

The woman lives with her parents in north Delhi’s Timarpur and is a first-year student. The attack happened in Nehru Vihar when she was on her way to college. Seeing her bleeding, some passersby called the police.

“I received a long cut on my waist and was given 38 stitches,” said the woman.

She remembered seeing the suspect with some other youths in her neighbourhood twice or thrice in the last few days but his actions didn’t arouse suspicion.