A group of people attacked a 24-year-old woman with acid outside her business unit at Osmania Colony on Tuesday in Hawal area of the old Kashmir city. The woman sustained burn injuries in her eyes and face after the acid attack. The survivor was rushed to SHMS hospital with burn injuries. The victim hails from Eidgah area of downtown Srinagar.
The police arrested one of the accused who attacked the woman. A police official said that the girl will be taken to identify the attackers.
“Investigation is going on. We are viewing CCTV footage. We will also be talking to the victim to identify the attackers. We have taken one attacker into custody as to make out the motive behind the attack.”
Dr. Kanwaljeet Singh, Medical Superintendent of SMHS Hospital said that the girl has sustained injuries. There are burn injuries on her face, left forearm and left hand. The doctor also expressed his concern over the health complication of the victim.
“It cannot be said at this point whether she would be able to see with her eyes agains. The doctors are monitoring her condition and the girl is being operated.”
Dr. Kanwaljeet Singh
The Mayor of Srinagar expressed his anguish over the incident on his Twitter account.
“I stand with the victim (survivor) and her family and will reach out personally.”
SHO Nowhatta, Taseer Khan said that an FIR has been registered and an immediate enquiry has been called into the matter.
“A case under section 326-A of IPC has been registered to nab culprits behind the attack. The police have already started the investigation and questioned the people living in the area where the incident took place. The preliminary investigation has suggested that there are no CCTV cameras available at or near the site of the incident.”
Taseer Khan, SHO Nowhatta
The officer added that the cops are finding the accused persons and are in search for any eye witness, but the investigation will proceed further only when the victim discloses the details of the incident.
“We will also check the victim’s phone to acquire a list of people who she had contacted before the attack. This will also help us to find a lead towards the assailant’s identity and will also verify whether the victim had any acquaintance with the attacker or not.”
This was the second such incident in Kashmir in four months. Last October an 18-year-old girl sustained burn injuries on the face in an acid attack in Shopian district of Kashmir.