In a shocking incident, a 35-year-old married woman of the city suffered multiple burn injuries when a youth poured acid on her around noontime at the busy Badambadi bus terminus here on Tuesday. The youth, who was overpowered by some onlookers and handed over to the police, also suffered burn injuries in his hand.
Incidentally, both the accused and the victim are neighbours and belong to local Nayak Sahi of the Mangalabag area of the city. While the Badambadi police investigated into the incident after registering a case, the accused and the victim are underwent treatment at the SCB Medical College Hospital here. Hospital sources said the woman has suffered multiple burn injuries in her face and back, but she is out of danger.
“We have booked the accused Gobind Nayak under Sections 307, 326 and 34 IPC and investigating the case from all angles,” said city DCP Sanjib Arora. The police are, however, yet to ascertain the motive behind the acid attack. Preliminary reports said the acid used in the attack was meant for toilet cleansing.
Eyewitnesses said while the woman was boarding a Puri-bound bus, Gobind came from behind and emptied the acid bottle on her. Hearing the cries of the woman, some onlookers chased the youth and overpowered him.
Gobind, however, has a different tale to tell. “I was carrying a bottle of toilet cleaning acid and the woman wanted to see it. When I refused, she tried to snatch the bottle from my hand, and in the process, some acid sprinkled from the bottle in which we both suffered injuries,” he said, adding that the neighbourhood woman is an acquaintance.
Residents of Nayak Sahi said the families of the accused and the victim were at loggerheads and had previous rivalries. “Notwithstanding the family disputes, the victim and the accused were close to each other, much to the dismay of others,” said a resident of Nayak Sahi.