A minor girl was severely injured and hospitalised after three unknown miscreants threw acid at her in Gangpur village under the Badagada police station in Ganjam district late on Saturday night.
The victim identified as Mamuni Bisoyi (17) was admitted to the MKCG Medical College Hospital here. Her condition is stated to be critical, reports said.
The miscreants entered the victim’s house on Saturday night while she was sleeping; and after splashing acid on her, fled the spot.
The girl’s maternal uncle Prakash Swain told reporters that the miscreants entered into the room where his niece, her mother, younger sister and grandmother were sleeping.
As the room was dark, they flashed torchlight on the face of all; and after identifying Mamuni, they poured acid on her and ran away, said Swain.
The girl said she could not recognise the miscreants as they ran away after the incident.
She said she was in love with a youth named Tofan of her village, who was willing to marry her.
“But his family members rejected the proposal and got him married to another girl, who being aware of our relationship, had engaged lipun and his associates to eliminate me as she apprehended that Tofan would continue his relationship with me after the marriage,” Mamuni added.
Meanwhile, police arrested prime accused lipun Bisoyi and launched a manhunt to nab others.