Arrest in Faridabad in Boiling-Water Assault Case
A couple was arrested in Faridabad on Friday for allegedly throwing boiling water on a young woman and keeping her confined in a room for three days without medical treatment. The arrests came five days after the incident, which took place on August 16 in Kureshipur, a village in the area.
The accused have been identified as Lalita and her husband Dharmendra, both residents of Gaddha Colony in Kureshipur. Police said the couple had fled soon after the incident and were taken into custody on Friday, about five days after the attack.
Yashpal Yadav, public relations officer of Faridabad police, said there appeared to be prima facie strong evidence against the couple for inflicting severe burn injuries on the woman and confining her in their house for three days without providing any treatment. Both suspects were forwarded to judicial custody on Friday, he added.
An FIR was registered against the couple under sections 124 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid) and 127(2) (wrongful confinement) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Dhauj police station on Thursday, based on the victim's complaint.
The Incident and the Victim's Ordeal
The victim, identified as Preeti, a 23-year-old woman, had been staying at Lalita's house for around two months amid marital discord with her husband, Rohit. Police said Preeti had separated from her husband about two months ago and moved in with her uncle and aunt.
According to police, there were frequent disputes between Preeti and Lalita over household matters, including an argument about cooking. Lalita later told investigators that Preeti had not been helping with household work for several days, which led to repeated disputes, according to the police.
Police said the aunt coerced Preeti to cook food for the family daily and perform household chores. When Preeti resisted, her aunt poured boiling water on her as she slept around 4 am on August 16, then locked her in a room, officials said.
Preeti suffered severe burns to the portion of her body below the chest and her arm. She was kept locked inside the room for three days and was not given access to medical treatment, according to her complaint and police accounts.
Rescue and Hospitalization
Preeti was rescued on Wednesday after her maternal uncle Rahul, who lives about a kilometre away, approached police and got the room opened. The matter came to light when Preeti's estranged husband and her maternal uncle discovered her condition and alerted police on Wednesday night, according to the police.
She was initially taken to BK Hospital and later referred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi for treatment. Police said Preeti is currently undergoing treatment at the Delhi hospital and is reported to be stable.
Motive Under Investigation
Beyond the assault, police are looking into an allegation that the couple had planned to force Preeti to marry an elderly man. According to the victim's complaint, as reported by The Times of India, the couple had "fixed a deal" of Rs 3 lakh for Preeti to be married to a 65-year-old man.
Hindustan Times reported that further investigation is underway to ascertain the allegation that the couple were forcing the woman to marry an elderly man in lieu of Rs 3 lakh. Police said all aspects of the case were being examined.