A 32-year-old woman was injured in an acid attack inside the emergency ward of the Civil Hospital in Gurugram, Haryana, on Sunday evening, in an incident that police suspect may have involved mistaken identity.
According to police officials, the attack occurred between 8:15 pm and 8:30 pm in the hospital’s casualty ward.
The suspect allegedly approached the woman from behind and threw a corrosive substance before fleeing the scene. The victim sustained 25% burns and injuries to her shoulder, neck, cheek, and arms, officials said.
Doctors at the hospital provided immediate treatment and later referred the injured woman to Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak for advanced care.
Police are investigating claims that the acid attack may have been intended for another woman who was present at the hospital.
A 20-year-old woman, who had reportedly been stalked by the suspected attacker, told authorities that she may have been the intended target. She said the accused was her former boyfriend, and she had arrived at the hospital earlier that evening to receive treatment for injuries sustained during an alleged assault by him.
She was visiting her aunt's house in Gurgaon and according to her statement, the man allegedly assaulted her earlier around 5 pm, hitting her on the head with an iron rod. She was taken to the Gurugram Civil Hospital by family members for treatment and required multiple stitches for her injuries.
The woman further alleged that the suspect followed her to the hospital along with his wife and was searching for her inside the facility. She had broken up with him when she learned he was married and he had threatened her for which she had filed a police complaint for that. He was enraged with her for filing the complaint.
She told police that the acid attack may have occurred because the 32-year-old victim and she were wearing similar clothes, which may have led the attacker to mistakenly target the other woman.
See also: Delhi Acid Attack Near Laxmi Bai College: 20-Year-Old Woman Injured
The injured 32-year-old woman told investigators that she did not know the suspect and was unable to identify him.
“My condition is serious. The suspect suddenly came from behind and fled after throwing acid on me. I could not see his face,” she reportedly told authorities.
Hospital authorities immediately alerted police after the incident.
Dr. Lokveer Singh, principal medical officer of Gurugram Civil Hospital, said emergency treatment was provided before the victim was referred to a higher medical facility for further care, according to a report by The Hindustan Times.
Police said the suspect fled the hospital immediately after the attack and remains absconding. Officers from the Sector 10 police station have launched an investigation and are reviewing CCTV footage from the hospital premises to identify and locate the accused.
Authorities are also recording statements from the victims and witnesses to determine whether the attack was directed at the 32-year-old woman or intended for the younger woman who reported being stalked.
(Rh)
