Man throws acid at sister-in-law in Nainital, held

HALDWANI: A 29-year-old man was arrested on Friday for allegedly throwing acid at his sister-in-law after she refused to give him money for his daughter’s treatment a few days earlier, a Nainital police officer said.

The woman, 42, is being treated for severe burns. It is not clear if she can see again, the officer said.

Inspector Pramod Pathak, station house officer of Banbhoolpura in Nainital district’s Haldwani city, said the incident took place on Wednesday night when the acid attack survivor, a labourer, went to see her son because he was unwell.

The accused, who lives in the vicinity, also reached the woman’s son’s house in time to catch her at the gate. The accused spoke with her for a bit and tried to get her to drink from the glass that he brought along. But she refused.

He did try to get her to drink from the glass again as he walked with the woman to her house. But she wouldn’t relent since she wasn’t sure what he was giving her. “It was then that he threw the acid from the glass at her face and fled the spot leaving the woman screaming in pain,” said Pathak

Local residents took her to the hospital where she is being treated.

When the woman’s son reached the hospital, she told him that a few days back, her brother-in-law, the accused, asked her for money for his daughter’s treatment who was down with jaundice. But she and her husband, elder brother of the accuse, refused. “He was angry with both of them since then and committed the ghastly act before being nabbed on Friday,” said Pathak.

A formal police complaint was lodged by her son the following day.

Phulwa Singh was produced before the local court which later sent him to jail, the police officer said.