New Delhi: The father of a Delhi teenager attacked with an acid-like substance Wednesday morning said the assault has left his daughter blinded and “in a critical condition”.
“I wish I had dropped her at school,” said the father. “I would never have let her go alone if I knew something like this might happen.” An FIR has been lodged in the incident.
A class 12 student was injured after two bike-borne men allegedly threw the acid-like substance at her when she was on her way to school.
Dwarka Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), M Harsha Vardhan, said the police received a call informing about the incident around 9 am Wednesday.
“It was stated that a girl aged 17 years was allegedly attacked with some acid-like substance by two persons on a bike. The girl was with her younger sister at the time of the incident. She had raised suspicions over two persons known to them. Three accused have been arrested,” the DCP said.
The victim’s father, however, said she “was blinded and couldn’t see the attacker”.
“I asked my daughter about the incident. She doesn’t know much. She said he came and threw the ‘acid’…she was blinded and couldn’t see the person. Doctors are examining her,” said Kapil.
The girl is currently undergoing treatment at the Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi. According to doctors, she has suffered around eight per cent burns and has red patches around her neck as well as swollen eyes.
Taking cognizance of the attack, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said strict action would be taken against the perpetrators. Delhi Commission for Women Chairperson Swati Maliwal also tweeted saying “will get justice for the daughter”.
‘Exceptionally good in studies’
According to the victim’s family, the 17-year-old is “exceptionally” good in her studies and plans to pursue an LLB degree.
Speaking to ThePrint, the girl’s aunt said, “She is very good in studies. She was to receive an award Friday for a Kabbadi event. She isn’t someone who would roam around. Both her parents kept their children very protected. We can’t blame our daughter at all.”
The aunt also said the minor did not have any enmity with anyone.
According to the latest NCRB data, 176 cases of acid attack were reported in 2021, 182 in 2020 and 249 in 2019. With 15, Rajasthan reported the highest number of such registered cases, followed by Maharashtra at 12, Haryana and Himachal at 11, followed by Delhi at 9.
As many as 79 cases under attempt to acid attack were registered in 2021 and 60 in 2020.
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