Indian woman attacked with acid by rejected suitor marries ‘well-wisher’

Sonali's husband got in touch with her after seeing her on TV following the acid attack, which took place in 2003

MUMBAI: Sonali Mukherjee, an acid attack victim from Bokaro, India, married her "well-wisher friend” Chittaranjan Tewary on Wednesday.

Sonali became the victim of a horrific acid attack on April 22, 2003, when a gang of miscreants led by a rejected suitor invaded her home and mutilated her while she slept on the terrace with her family. She suffered 70% burns.

Tewary heard about Sonali and the attack she suffered on TV, after which he got in touch with her on social media and even offered to pay for part of her treatment.

"Yes, life has come full circle indeed. My husband Chittaranjan is an electrical engineer from Jamshedpur who works at the Busan steel plant in Orissa. He saw me in a crime feature on television and was intrigued by my story. Nine months ago he contacted me through social media and we began speaking over the telephone. He partly funded my treatment from his salary as well. We met for the first time five months ago and he later proposed marriage," the 30-year-old Sonali told The Times of India.

"My parents were very happy and gave their blessings readily, so we performed a court marriage on April 15. His relatives are partly supportive. I hope to win them over with love and humility," she added.

Sonali’s story was reported in 2012 when an Andheri-based NGO called ‘Beti’ raised Rs2.2 million for her treatment. Of this, Rs1.25 million was gathered within 72 hours after personalities like actor Juhi Chawla and jeweler Mehul Choksi contributed towards the cause.

Through the years, Sonali has undergone various facial reconstruction surgeries to regain her eyesight, speech and auditory abilities.

Meanwhile, founder of Beti, Anu Ranjan tweeted that she was extremely overjoyed when she found out that Sonali got married.

https://instagram.com/p/1hZ1LXzHDX/

She told The Times of India: "I was overjoyed when Sonali called to say she was married. We are inviting her to an all-expenses paid honeymoon at Hotel J W Marriott and will organise a reception where people can present the couple gifts like household items."

Donor Mehul Choksi was also pleased to receive the good news. "This is India. There is anger and violence but there is compassion as well," he said.

This article originally appeared on The Times of India.