Ex-serviceman booked for raping, throwing acid on woman in Mansa

Police have booked an ex-serviceman and five others for allegedly throwing acid on a 35-year-old woman in Mansa. While three people have been arrested, the main accused and two others are still at large.

The woman received burn injuries after being attacked on Thursday and is undergoing treatment at the Mansa civil hospital.

Following the victim’s statement, a case under Sections 326 A (punishment for acid throwing) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC has been registered against Balwinder Singh and his younger brother Sukhwinder and other four unidentified persons, said station house officer Sarabjeet Kaur, adding that a case under Section 376 (rape) of the IPC has already been registered against Balwinder on the complaint of the victim.

The victim alleged that earlier too, the accused tried to throw acid on her. The survivor, a mother of 8-year-old son, said she and husband separated in 2014. She started working at a thread factory in Malerkotla in 2017 and came in contact with Balwinder, a native of Gurne Khurd village in Mansa. He promised her of getting a new job.

The victim alleged that in January 2018, Balwinder came to her house and raped her. The next morning when she tried to register a police complaint, the accused stopped her and promised to marry her.

When he refused to marry her, the victim registered a rape complaint against him at City 2 police station in Mansa. Following that, the accused started threatening her and even tried throw acid on her. When she informed the police after first attack, the police took the sample of acid and sent it for verification.

“The victim was in a live in relationship the accused. The police have registered a case and have arrested three accused,” said Gulneet Khurana, senior superintendent of police.

The victim was in a live in relationship with the accused. The police have registered a case and have arrested three accused.

GULNEET KHURANA, Mansa SSP