Tayiba Khan, 18, who was supposed to get married in a few months, is now recuperating at a centre run by RMl hospital for life-threatening burn injuries that she had sustained on July 14 in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, after a jilted lover allegedly threw acid on her face and forced her to drink it.
After getting initial treatment in the city she was brought to RMl last week.
According to the victim’s relative, on July 11, Tayiba was engaged to someone and family started preparing for her marriage.
“After coming to know about the development, her alleged lover, who earlier had threatened the family of dire consequences in case of Tayiba was not married to him, got furious. I cannot forget that ‘black night’ in my life that ruined lives of my two daughters. As usual, all the family members were sleeping on the terrace when some miscreants from the neighborhood threw acid on my daughter. My younger daughter sleeping nearby Tayiba also suffered from burn injuries and she is undergoing treatment at an Agra-based hospital. Also, they forced my daughter to drink acid,” said victim’s mother Aneesha Khan with tears in her eyes.
Since then the family has been running to get treatment of both their daughters fearing about the marriage prospect of Tayiba, who has sustained extensive burn injuries on her face and on her body. Also, Tayiba’s intestine has been damaged, claimed family members.
“I don’t even know whether my daughter’s in-laws will agree to go ahead with the marriage after this horrific incident,” said Aneesha who wants to see culprits behind bars.
Dr VK Tiwari, HOD of burn and Plastic Surgery department told The Pioneer, “For burn patients, our first priority is to save the patient’s life. The patient has received deep burn injuries about 25-30 per cent on face. The victim’s face reconstruction and deformity would be done later, once the patient would be stable. And this procedure usually takes 2- 3 years. “
Due to the acid, she has lost her eyesight and hearing capacity, said Dr Tiwari, adding that the acid on the victim had high concentration of sulfuric acid.
Dr Tiwari said, over the years cases of acid attack (vitriolage) have definitely gone down but still active in the parts of UP. “We receive at least one case of vitriolage in two to three months. And these cases are mostly from outside Delhi,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Karoon Agrawal, plastic surgeon at Safdarjung Hospital said many times cases of vitriolage go unreported too. “Such patients should be given family and societal support and the Government should take some stringent steps against the culprits. A patient goes into depression and other psychological problems,” said Dr Agrawal.
Meanwhile, victim’s family has lodged a police complaint against the absconding culprits at Mathura police station.