Delhi Acid Attack: 2 More Suspects Picked Up by Police; CM Kejriwal Demands ‘Strictest Punishment’

A 17-year-old school-going girl in Delhi’s Dwarka area fell prey to an acid attack incident on Wednesday morning. Bike-borne youths allegedly threw acid on her, and the class 12th student was admitted to Safdarjung hospital for treatment. According to a preliminary report, her condition is said to be stable.

Delhi police earlier detained one person, and later detained two more, taking the total arrests to 3. The arrests were made on the basis of the family’s statement, sources said.

According to reports, the victim’s father has no idea who could be behind the attack. He also claimed his daughter never spoke of any harassment being done to her. “She told me that they came and threw the acid and she could not see them. Doctors are examining her. If I had known about any such thing (harassment), I would have taken care and dropped her to school,” PTI quoted him as saying.

A video of the incident went viral on social media, where two men riding a blue-coloured bike were seen throwing acid at the victim. She was attacked minutes after she left her home for school and is battling serious injuries.

According to M. Harsha Vardhan, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka), a police control room (PCR) call was received around 9 a.m. regarding an acid attack incident in the Mohan Garden area.

‘Acid Sale Rampant in City, What Are You Doing?’ DCW Chief Asks Government

As outrage spread over the attack, women’s groups and others, including Lt Governor V K Saxena, raised questions on the availability of acid in markets despite a ban and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked how the accused could have gathered so much courage.

Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) Chief Swati Maliwal said that the chemical despite ban is as available to purchase as vegetable. “We have issued notice to the city police over the incident. The attackers should be arrested and given stringent punishment,” Maliwal said.

“DCW has issued several notices, given several recommendations, but acid sale continues. Just like vegetables are sold, anybody can buy acid and throw it on a girl. Why are governments sleeping over it? When a girl is attacked with acid, her soul is scarred and her life is ruined,” a PTI report quoted her as saying.

Delhi CM Kejriwal Demands ‘Strictest Punishment’ For Attackers

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanded stringent punishment for those involved in throwing acid on a minor girl in west Delhi, and asserted that the government is concerned about every child in the city.

In a tweet, Kejriwal said: “This cannot be tolerated at all. How did the accused gather so much courage? The accused should be given the strictest punishment. The safety of every girl child in Delhi is important to us.” According to police, the matter was reported to them around 9 am and the victim was attacked in Mohan Garden area.

Will Extend All Possible Assistance to Teen, Says Acid Attack Survivor Laxmi Agarwal

Acid attack survivor and activist Laxmi Agarwal on Wednesday said she will extend all possible assistance to the 17-year-old girl who was attacked with acid in west Delhi and urged authorities to strictly implement the ban on the corrosive substance.

Agarwal, who herself survived an acid attack at the age of 15, had come to meet the victim at Safdarjung Hospital’s burn ICU but was stopped by authorities.

“I want to help the victim with her treatment and provide her counselling. Our foundation will support the girl. She should be given good treatment. Most of the time what happens is that when acid is thrown, it also affects the eyes. So priority remains that it does not affect the eyes in any way. ” Agarwal told reporters.

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