New Delhi, Dec 23: Acid was hurled at a 30-year-old woman doctor at a crowded market in the national capital Tuesday morning by two motorcycle-borne assailants, police said.
Amrita Kaur, employed with an Employees State Insurance (ESI) hospital, was attacked around 9.30 a.m. in west Delhi’s Rajouri Garden area.
The unidentified attackers also snatched her bag before speeding away, police said.
Amrita Kaur was heading towards the ESI hospital in Bali Nagar area, barely a few kilometres from the spot.
The woman was riding her two-wheeler when she was attacked, a police official said.
According to the official, Amrita Kaur received 45 percent burn injuries on the right side of her face and head.
The acid also affected her right eye.
She was rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) where she was said to be out of danger.
In her statement to police, Amrita Kaur said: “Two people on a motorcycle approached me when I stopped my two-wheeler at a place to attend to a phone call. One of them threw acid on my head when I resisted their attempt to snatch my hand bag.”
Police suspect robbery as the main reason behind the attack but have not ruled other motives.
They said they would examine CCTV footage of the incident and the culprits will be arrested soon.
The woman is a native of Punjab who lives in Hari Nagar area with her brother. She got engaged eight months ago. Her father is a senior ranked officer in the Border Security Force (BSF).
At least 50 victims of acid attacks staged a protest at the incident spot and outside the Rajouri Garden police station after Tuesday’s attack.
“We are demanding a complete ban of acids in the market but their sale is still on despite a court order. This attack was an outcome of the same,” Alok Dixit, a protester and campaigner for acid attack victims, told IANS.
Criticising the attack, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said it took place in full public view, and shows that there was no fear of police in the attackers’ minds.
“This clearly exposes the poor state of law and order in the national capital,” the AAP said. (IANS)
