Srinagar; January 02: Police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested three persons after a girl was yesterday attacked with acid in Eidgah area of Srinagar.

In a statement Police said that during the evening of 01.02.2022, Srinagar police recieved an information regarding acid attack on a 24 year old girl in Hawal area falling under Police Station Nowhatta.

In this regard a case under FIR No. 08/2022 U/S 326-A of IPC was registered in Police Station Nowhatta and investigation was started immediately, they said.

As the case was of heinous nature, SSP Srinagar immediately formed a Special investigation team with SP North Raja Zuhaib-JKPS as Chairman and SDPO Khanyar, SHO Nowhatta, SHO Safakadal and SHO Women PS as members, they said.

During the initial field investigations and technical analysis, name of one suspect came up which led to apprehension of the main accused namely Sajid Altaf Rather S/o Mohd Altaf Rather R/o Buchwara Dalgate. SIT arrested this main accused as his role came into prominence.

During the initial questioning, it came out that this accused was having interest in the girl and since she had rejected his engagement proposal, he had been stalking her. The arrested accused had taken note of the timings of the girl long before this attack. The accused used to work in a medical shop and in the evening of 01.02.2022, he took break from work and went on a scooty towards the place where the girl used to work alongwith a co-accused namely Momin Nazir sheikh S/o Nazir Ahmad Sheikh R/o Mehjoornagar, they said.

On Victim’s way back home in the late evening, she was followed and acid was thrown on her and afterwards the accused ran away and went back to his shop. This second accused was also arrested when more evidences in case came up. The scooty used in the commission of this heinous crime was also seized by Police, they said.

It further came out that the accused had purchased the Acid from one of his knowns namely Mohd Saleem S/o Abdul Ganie resident of Padshai bagh, a motor Mechanic who works at international motors near Durga nath near Dal Gate area. This third accused person has also been arrested for his further examination, they said.

Legal Process was also initiated for sealing this workshop as one of its employee had sold acidic material in violation of Hon’ble SC guidelines. This Shop was sealed by following due procedure by Executive Magistrate, they said.

All shopkeepers in Srinagar are strictly instructed to follow Hon’ble SC directions on sale of acid, failing which legal action will initiated against them.

A special drive will be started in this regards shortly in coordination with District Administration, reads the statement.