Two Christian women attacked with acid in Quetta

According to police, injured have nominated Vijay Masih, a christian man, for the crime

QUETTA: Two young Christian women, including a teenager, sustained severe burn injuries after they were attacked with acid in the vegetable market in, Basti Panchait, a predominantly christian area in Quetta.

28-year-old Rimsha Masih, 16-year-old Hinah Masih, were sprayed with acid, spokesperson Quetta police confirmed.

"The injured have nominated Vijay Masih, a christian man, for the crime,” a police spokesperson said. Vijay is the resident of Brewery Road and belongs to Christian community.

The women were transported to Lady Hospital near the crime scene and were later shifted to Provincial Sandeman Hospital. Due to inadequate facilities they were then taken to the Bolan Medical College Teaching Hospital.

At the hospital, the doctors confirmed that they are receiving medical treatment.

READ:Man booked for trying to assault woman

Last year at least four women were sprayed with an acid-filled syringe in different parts of Balochistan. Home Secretary Akbar Durrani said usually, religious fanatics claim responsibility for such attacks.

In 2011, four female Baloch teachers of a private school were attacked with acid by unknown culprits in the Killi Alam area of Saryab.

Read: Four women sprayed with acid-filled syringe in Quetta market

In April 2010, three sisters aged between 14 and 20 years old were attacked as they walked from Kalat city to Pandarani village. Earlier in the month, a group calling itself the ‘Baloch Ghairatmand Group’ claimed responsibility for a similar attack on two women in a market in Dalbandin city. The group had warned women to wear the hijab and not to visit markets unaccompanied by men from their families.

Meanwhile, female employees in the area complain of receiving threatening phone calls or messages by unidentified groups. Recently, a group attacked a private school in Panjgur and warned the administrators against co-education.