Acid attack on girl for resisting harassment

Two youths on a motorcycle threw acid on a college girl today, reportedly after she resisted their harassment over the past few days. The gi...

Two youths on a motorcycle threw acid on a college girl today, reportedly after she resisted their harassment over the past few days. The girl suffered burns in the face and abdomen but is out of danger.

The youths attacked Ishita Sandhu, a first-year BSc student of Rajkiya Kanya Mahavidyala (RKMV), on her way to college in New Shimla. She had walked only a couple of yards from her house past a police chowki near Bishop Cotton School when they threw acid on her face and sped away. A driver and a Nepali labourer heard her cries and called police.

Ishita was rushed to Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital. Doctors said she had suffered serious injuries but she is out of danger. ‘‘Probably, the acid thrown at her was the diluted form of sulphuric acid used in batteries,’’ a doctor said.

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The girl’s family was tightlipped. ‘‘I cannot comment on the incident as we are yet to assess what happened,’’ said father Rikhi Ram Sandhu, a retired revenue official. Ishita, still under shock, did not speak.

Police have registered a case under Section 326. ASP (Shimla city) Virender Kanwar said: ‘‘Preliminary investigations reveal the girl had been harassed by some boys for the past few days. The acid attack was result of her resistance.’’

RKMV principal Dr J.S. Negi said: ‘‘We have urged the police to increase vigil around the college.”

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