After DCW intervenes, hospital returns money taken for acid attack victims' treatment

After the intervention of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), a private hospital returned a sum of Rs 70,000 that was unlawfully charged for the treatment of two minor acid attack victims. Further, the hospital is now treating the two minor girls free of cost.

After someone informed the brother of the victims about the Supreme Court's direction of free treatment for acid attack victims in hospitals, on March 7, he approached the DCW seeking help for the return of payment which was unlawfully charged by the hospital for his sisters' treatment.

The boy told the Commission that on February 19, a drunkard was staring his sisters from the window while they were getting ready. Later, the drunkard was shouted upon by their father after the minor girls complained about the man's act.

Further, the accused in aggression attacked the minor girls with acid while they were standing at their door. The complainant also stated that the accused had bought acid from near his workplace and that after the attack, the girls were 20 percent burnt and their father also suffered acid spots on his body.

"We immediately took the victims to a nearby private hospital which stated the cost of both the girls' surgery at Rs 70,000," stated the complainant.

"We had no option but to mortgage our valuables in order to pay the hospital bills," he added.

Later, a DCW member Farheen got the case registered and spoke to the administrative department of the hospital. After the Commission's interference, the hospital returned the money to the complainant and started treating the two girls for free. The two minor victims are still admitted in the hospital and are under proper treatment.