Delhi Police on Wednesday said that investigators in the acid attack case are using forensic and technical clues to prosecute the accused for allegedly throwing a substance at a 17-year-old girl this morning. They added that Dwarka Police investigators found electronic evidence that the acid was obtained from an online platform.
The latest update comes after police arrested three people in the case. The incident that created a furore happened when the girl was on her way to school. Two men on a bike allegedly threw an acid-like substance at her, with the attack caught on CCTV. The girl, a Class 12 student, was standing on the road near Dwarka Metro station in southwest Delhi along with her younger sister when the incident took place.
Initially, the police arrested one person based on the suspicion of the girl on two people she knew. Later, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Harsha Vardhan Mandava said another boy has emerged as the prime suspect and several teams have been formed to nab the accused. Police also said they are searching all CCTV footage and probing all angles of the case to find out the reason behind the attack.
The girl’s parents separately confirmed that she was on her way to school and only learned of what happened to her after their younger daughter returned home some time after leaving. The girl is currently undergoing treatment at Safdarjung Hospital and the police said earlier in the day that her life is out of danger. The doctor said she suffered 7 to 8 percent burns to her face and eyes.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) and the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) have taken cognizance of the matter. DCW chief Swati Maliwal also rapped the central government and alleged that despite several advisories and warnings, retail sale of acid “vegetables are sold” continues in the country. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said such incidents “cannot be tolerated” and called for the “severest punishment” for the accused.
