Six teenage girls injured in acid attack in Punjab

Batala: Six teenage girls were injured in an acid attack in Dera Baba Nanak area here on Wednesday evening after one of them spurned the advances of the assailant, police said.

Senior Superintendent of Police Diljinder Singh Dhillon said while a 14-year-old girl suffered around 18 percent burn injuries on her face and arm, five of her friends were also injured as some drops of the corrosive liquid fell on them when two motorcycle-borne youths allegedly threw acid at a group of girls returning home from school.

The girl, who suffered most injuries, was said to be the target of the attack.

The main accused has been identified as Saajan (19), a resident of Phurewal in Amritsar.

The victim had told her family that the accused was stalking her for the past two-three days. Her family members had then raised the matter with Saajan's parents, who possibly reprimanded him. Upset over this, the accused allegedly threw acid at her, police said.

Saajan was reportedly studying in the same school as the victim but was rusticated for bad conduct, the SSP said.

A case has been registered against the accused and his unidentified accomplice and hunt is on for them, police said.

Meanwhile, Punjab Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema directed the District Education Officer to immediately release Rs 50,000 for the girl's treatment, personally visit her at the hospital, and report her condition to him.

Cheema directed SSP Batala to take immediate action against the culprit and told the the Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, to ensure special care and treatment of the victim.

The Education Minister also spoke to the doctors of Guru Nanak Medical Hospital and the victim's father, and assured him of full support in securing justice.