Intimate partner violence: Husband arrested for acid attack

Doctors say she has 50% burns; her face and chest have been affected.

BAHAWALPUR:

A man was arrested in Rahim Yar Khan on Thursday for allegedly throwing acid at his wife with the help of his mother.

The victim was taken to a hospital, where doctors treating her said that her condition was critical.

An FIR was registered on the complaint her brother Muhammad Ajmal.

Police quoted Ajmal as saying that his sister Saima Bibi* had married Mohan Ji, a resident of Iqbalabad, four years ago. He said they quarreled often and that Mohan beat her frequently.

On Thursday, he said, she had an argument with Mohan and he beat her up.



He then called his mother and told her to tie down Saima.

Later, he returned with acid, which he threw at his wife.

Ajmal said the mother-in-law and husband then kept Saima locked in the room in pain. Some neighbours, who had already noticed commotion at the house, went over to ask what was wrong, but Mohan told them to leave saying it was a private matter.

Ajmal said one of the neighbours informed him that he thought there was something wrong. He said he had heard Saima shout for help.

He said he rushed to her house and discovered that Mohan and his mother had locked his sister in a room. He said they refused to let him take her to a hospital until he threatened to call police.

He took his sister to Shaikh Zayed Hospital, where doctors treating her said she had 50 per cent burns. Her face and chest were the most affected. Ajmal said he informed the police, who arrested Mohan from his house a few hours later. Police said they had also recorded the victim’s statement. They said her mother-in-law had been missing. Police were looking for her.

*The Name Has Been Changed To Protect The Victim’s Identity

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2013.