Youth force fed acid for not having 'paneer' in his shop

A 20-year-old man was allegedly force-fed acid by a group of men, after an argument at the former's shop in South East Delhi's Sangam Vihar on Wednesday.

Police said that one of the accused had gone to buy paneer (cottage cheese) from the victim Yogesh's milk shop.

When he found out it was unavailable, he started abusing Yogesh.

The next day, he gathered a few of his friends at Yogesh's shop and forced a chemical substance down his throat.

Yogesh is currently admitted at AIIMS and said to be critical.

His family members said the accused had come to the shop for the first time.

Police claimed to have identified the main accused, Golu, who reportedly had a tiff with Yogesh a day before the incident. He is yet to be arrested.

DCP (South East) Romil Baaniya said the incident was reported to police on Wednesday by Yogesh's sister.

She called up police and said that her brother at the time was force fed acid by a group of men. Initially, he was taken to Majeedia Hospital.

"When we investigated the case, the family members told us that a day before the incident Golu had walked into the shop and asked for some paneer. At that time they had run out of paneer, and told Golu the same. This infuriated the accused, who hurled abuses at the victim and later left his shop," said a police officer privy to the investigation.

On Wednesday, Golu – flanked by three to four other men – barged into Yogesh's shop and fed him a chemical substance in front of his sister.

Initially, he did not feel anything, but a while later he started to feel a burning sensation, which was when he realized that he was fed acid, his family members alleged.

After being taken to Majeedia Hospital, the victim was later referred to AIIMS for further treatment.

The police are yet to confirmed whether the substance was acid or not, and have roped in forensic teams to ascertain what the substance was.

A case under section 326A (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered at Sangam Vihar police station.