Lucknow: In a harrowing incident, a young student preparing for the CAT exam was subjected to an acid attack near Lohia Park in the Chowk area of Lucknow. The victim who is the daughter of a famous businessman and politician Sharad Tiwary and the niece of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician Sandeep Tiwary, along with her cousin Harsh, is undergoing treatment at the King George’s Medical University (KGMU). The attack has left half of the student’s face severely burnt and has also inflicted serious injuries on her cousin, who tried to shield her from the assault.
The incident
At approximately 8 a.m., the student and her cousin Harsh were accosted by a young man who threw acid on the student’s face causing severe burns. Harsh, who intervened to protect the victim, also sustained severe injuries. Both were rushed to plastic surgery ward of KGMU by the police.
Dr. Vijay Kumar the head of the Plastic Surgery Department at KGMU, reported that the student’s facial skin has darkened, indicating severe burns. The acid also splashed into her eyes, posing a serious threat to her vision. While both the victims are out of immediate danger, their treatment will be extensive and possibly require surgery.
Even 32 hours post-incident, the victim is still grappling with immense pain and trauma. In a heart-wrenching moment, she questioned her father about the motive behind the attack, bringing tears to his eyes. Despite the suffering, she remains determined to continue her studies and pursue her MBA from a prestigious institution like the Indian Institute of Management (IIM).
The family also reveled that the attacker had been harassing her through calls and messages from unknown numbers. Despite blocking his number multiple times, the harassment continued, culminating in the tragic attack.
Accused arrested after encounter
The police acted swiftly, arresting the accused, Abhishek Verma, in an encounter. Verma who was preparing for competitive exams, had been stalking the victim for almost 45 days. On the day of the attack, after being scolded and sent away by the victim’s cousin, Verma returned with the bottle of acid and committed the heinous crime.
The victim and her family are calling for strict punishment for the attacker, hoping it will serve as a deterrent against such heinous acts.
The National PG College faculty, where the victim was a BBA graduate, have expressed their shock and support. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has called for the best possible treatment for the victim and has instructed the police to ensure stringent action against the assailant. Security has been beefed up at the hospital and counseling is being provided to the victim.
Mahi Saha
Mahi Saha, from Ranchi, reports for Neo Politico.
