Delhi schoolgirl is attacked with acid in broad daylight

A 17-year-old girl was attacked near Uttam Nagar with an acid-like substance by two bike riders on Wednesday morning, police said. One of the culprits has been detained.

According to police, the matter was reported to them around 9 am and the victim was attacked in Mohan Garden area.

"A PCR call was received around 9 am regarding an incident of throwing acid on a girl in the area of Mohan Garden Police Station.

"It was stated that a girl aged 17 years was allegedly attacked with some acid-like substance by two persons on a bike around 7.30 am this morning," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) M Harsha Vardhan.

The girl was with her younger sister at the time of the incident. She is being treated at Safdarjung Hospital, the officer said.

The girl has named two persons who could be responsible for the attack, one of whom has been detained by police, the DCP added.

"My daughters, one aged 17 and the other 13, were out together this morning. Suddenly, two men on a bike threw acid at my elder daughter and drove away. They had covered their faces," the girl's father told the media.

On being asked if his daughter had complained about harassment by anyone, her father said, "No, she did not. If she had, I would have accompanied her everywhere. The sisters would travel to school together in Metro."

Responding to the incident, Swati Maliwal, Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women tweeted: "In the country's capital, two miscreants throw acid on a schoolgirl in broad daylight and leave Is anyone afraid of the law now? Why acid is not banned? SHAME!"

Footage of the incident was captured by a CCTV camera in the area, showing the two girls walking by the roadside when a bike slows down and one of the riders throws a liquid substance from a glass at the 17-year-old. Eyewitnesses said that the girl ran to a neighbour who helped wash the chemical off her face.