Accused sprays acid on rape survivor in Gurugram

GURUGRAM: In an incident that again highlighted the threat faced women rape survivors who approach the judiciary for justice, a 28-year-old woman was recently attacked with acid by the accused in the rape case.

The acid attack occurred on November 22 in Gurugram's Dundahera area.

After spending eight days in the hospital for recovery, the woman filed her complaint with the police, wherein she stated that the accused tried pouring acid on her private parts.

The accused, identified as Shailendra Mishra, has been absconding since the incident.

Mishra had reportedly raped the woman on March 18 this year, soon after which she had filed a case against him. An FIR was then filed, following which legal proceedings were held in the local courts.

In the course of the trial, however, Mishra was granted bail. After the first hearing was completed on November 22, the accused called the woman in order to settle the matter outside the court near Udyog Vihar.

When she reached the spot, however, Mishra and an accomplice of his dragged her to a desolate spot and sprayed acid on her.

"We had already filed a case under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code. Now, with the report of the woman being attacked with acid, we have registered another case under Section 326-A (attack with acid) and begun our investigation. We will soon get hold of the culprit, who is currently absconding, "said ACP Manish Sehegal, Gurugram police spokesperson.

The shocking incident has not only highlighted the rise of crime against women in the Millennium City, but also reflected how brazen and audacious such criminals have become in the city.

In one such brutal incident this year in June, a 19-year old woman was gang-raped by four people, who also murdered her nine-month old baby girl process, by choking the infant to death.