Tags:
Journalism of Courage
An angry crowd set two mosques in the town on fire this evening after a man threw a bottle of acid at passengers of a private bus, seriously injuring at least 11 people, including a five-year-old.
Doctors attending to the injured said four persons with more than 50 per cent burns may even lose their eyesight due to the attack.
Police later arrested the culprit, Mohammad Mahboob, from Muzzafarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. He has reportedly confessed to the crime.
According to the Mandi police, the incident occurred outside a bus stand around 3 pm, when Mohammad threw a bottle of acid at 22-year-old Mamta from Drubal village. Mamta was sitting inside the bus which was leaving for Koon.
As news of the acid attack spread, crowds began pour onto the streets. They collected in city squares and marched to the two mosques — Moti Masjid in Ramnagar Mandi and Janta Masjid on Jail Road. Police sources said some of them raised slogans and incited the mob to set fire to the shrines in retaliation to the acid attack.
Those injured in the acid attack were identified as Mushan (5), his mother Sheela, Shalu (all from Koon village), Mamta (Drubal village), Champa, Puran Chand (Kataula), Bhoop Singh (Banau), Manohar Lal (Badoh), Yog Raj, Shankar and Roop Singh.
The condition of Mamta, Shalu, Muskan and Champa is stated to be serious.
