Spurned suitor first flings acid on girl, then forces her to drink it

Another tragic incident of acid attack has been recorded in the Capital, after a man not only threw acid on a girl but also forced her to drink it. The accused has been nabbed, while the victim's condition is said to be critical.

What made the brutal act more horrific is the fact that the incident took place in broad daylight in South Delhi's Sangam Vihar, in front of several people who refused to move a muscle.

"My daughter came home running. She was drenched in acid and even her dupatta was fully burnt. She was crying and saying that she will die as acid has gone in her stomach," said the victim's mother.

On Wednesday, around 10.30 am, Payal (name changed) was going to her office in Sangam Vihar situated nearly a kilometre away from her residence. Little did she know that the accused, 23-year-old Ravi, who was furious after she turned down his marriage proposal, was waiting in the next lane with the dreaded bottle of acid.

Suddenly, she was stopped by Ravi and, before she could read his intentions, Ravi splashed the corrosive liquid on her.

Leaving no time for the victim to react, Ravi then went on to press the bottle against her mouth and forced her to drink the acid.

In a major display of courage, the victim managed to free herself from his clutches and began running towards home.

"We splashed a bucket of water on her as she was burning from the acid. Even my mother got burnt while helping my sister. We ran outside to get some help and take her to the hospital," said Payal's elder sister.

The victim's family said that there were men present on road during the time of the incident, but none rolled out efforts to nab the accused.

Payal's mother also said that if the people present on the road had made an effort, the tragedy could have been averted.

The victim was taken to the police station by a passer-by in his car, after which police took her to AIIMS. The girl sustained grievous internal injuries and is undergoing treatment.

"This boy Ravi was a nightmare for my daughter. He is a drunkard and my daughter refused to marry him which annoyed him. We were looking for a suitable groom for her," said Payal's mother.

Ravi works as a tailor and had been harassing Payal for a long time. Payal is an employee of a shoe crystal pasting factory in Sangam Vihar.

"The accused has been arrested under Section 336A of IPC and the samples of the acid have been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory for examination," said DCP South East Romil Baniya.