Woman suffers 60% burns in acid attack

PATNA: A 19-year-old woman suffered critical burn injuries after an unidentified man attacked her with acid in Bihar’s Nalanda district on Wednesday, police said.

The police said the incident took place when victim was going to a shopping complex with her cousin. When they reached between a park and the Nalanda circuit house, two men came from opposite direction and one of them poured acid on her face and fled the spot, police added.

“The victim’s cousin told the police that one of the two accused suddenly came towards them and hurled acid on her sister and fled the spot,” said Sadar deputy superintendent of police, Shibli Nomani, adding that two passersby were also injured in the incident.

Police said locals in the area shifted the woman to the nearby Sadar hospital for treatment and informed them. The injured were discharged from the hospital. The woman was later shifted to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), the police added.

The victim has sustained around 60% burns on her head, face and back, said the DSP.

Nalanda Superintendent of Police Hariprasath S said, “While scanning the CCTV footage in and around the spot, we found two suspects moving near the park and one of them threw a liquid on the victim and fled from the spot.”

Police are waiting to record the woman’s statement to establish the identity of the suspects. “We are working on leads and soon the accused will be nabbed,” the SP said.

A case has been registered under sections 320, 322, 325 and 326 of the Indian Penal Code, police said. Section 320 deals with grievous hurt. Police teams are on the lookout for the culprits.