Delhi woman doctor’s friend held for acid attack

New Delhi, Dec 25: A doctor and his friend were arrested and two juveniles were detained in connection with the acid attack on a 30-year-old woman doctor here, police said Thursday.

Ashok Yadav, a batch mate and friend of the woman doctor, along with his associate Vaibhav hatched the plan to throw acid on Amrita Kaur, police said.

Joint Commissioner of Police Tajendra Singh Luthra said Yadav became friends with Amrita Kaur while they were studying together in Russia and Belarus.

“After coming back to India, Yadav proposed her for marriage but she turned it down as she did not want to go against her family’s wish of an arranged marriage,” said Luthra.

Amrita Kaur got engaged to another man eight months ago.

This infuriated Yadav, who decided to “teach a lesson” to her, and therefore got in touch with Vaibhav, a call centre employee, who helped him hire two juveniles for Rs.25,000 to throw acid on Amrita Kaur.

Police said Rs.11,000 was given to the boys in two installments.

Police said a rehearsal was conducted with the two juveniles to ensure that the plan is executed successfully.

“He (Yadav) was very anxious and therefore conducted a rehearsal where he played the victim and the two juveniles threw water on him,” said Luthra.

However, the accused’s first attempt Dec 17 failed to materialise as the woman doctor was travelling in a car.

Amrita Kaur, employed with an Employees State Insurance hospital here, suffered burn injuries after the two motorcycle-borne assailants hurled acid at her Tuesday at a crowded market in Rajouri Garden area.

The attackers also snatched her purse to misguide police.

Divulging details about the arrest of the two attackers, police said it was Yadav’s call details that helped nab them.

Yadav was arrested early Thursday from his house in Hari Nagar area of west Delhi. The other accused too lived in his locality.

Police are also investigating the source from where the acid was procured.

According to Luthra, the woman doctor was refusing to believe that her “good friend” Yadav was behind the attack.  (IANS)