Police in Patna have made a shocking breakthrough in the recent acid attack on a beautician, revealing a conspiracy driven by personal jealousy and leading to the arrest of two women who were with the victim during the assault.
Attack on Station Road: A Pre-Planned Assault
The incident occurred on Sunday evening on Station Road under the jurisdiction of the Mokama police station. The victim, Sushma Gupta, was returning home from her beauty parlour accompanied by two other women. Two assailants on a motorcycle approached them, pretending to ask for directions to Begusarai. In a sudden, brutal move, they threw acid on Sushma before speeding away. The attack caused her to fall into a roadside drain, resulting in burn injuries and bruises. She was immediately rushed to a nearby private hospital for treatment.
Investigation Uncovers a Motive of Jealousy
According to Barh Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) I Anand Kumar Singh, the investigation, based on the victim's statement, quickly determined the attack was not random but meticulously planned. The probe revealed that the two accompanying women deliberately led Sushma along a specific route under the false pretext of stopping for chaat.
"One of the accused harboured long-standing resentment towards the victim, suspecting her of having an illicit relationship with her husband," SDPO Singh stated. He explained that disputes over the alleged affair had occurred before. "In a bid to end it permanently, she believed that disfiguring the victim’s face would force her husband to distance himself. To execute the plan, the accused hired a local youth to carry out the attack," he added.
Evidence Recovered and Hunt for Assailants
Police have identified one of the motorcycle-borne attackers, while the second rider remains at large. During raids, crucial evidence was recovered:
- Rs 97,000 in cash, allegedly the payment for the attacker.
- Three mobile phones and a motorcycle from the residence of one accused woman.
- Acid-burnt clothes and the glass bottle used in the crime from the assailant's house.
Mokama Station House Officer (SHO) Kunal Kumar confirmed that all seized items have been sent to the forensic science laboratory for examination. The two accused women were produced before a court on Monday evening and sent to judicial custody.
SHO Kumar also emphasized a critical finding: police found no evidence to support the allegation that the victim was involved in any extramarital relationship. Raids are ongoing to arrest the main assailant and his accomplice.
