New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): A joyful wedding celebration in Northeast Delhi’s Gokalpuri area turned into a scene of horror on Tuesday afternoon when a 21-year-old bride-to-be was targeted in a brutal acid attack. The victim, who was scheduled to be married on April 19, suffered severe burns to her face, eyes, neck, and hands while a ‘mehendi’ ritual was underway at her residence in Indira Vihar. Her sister also sustained injuries during the assault. Both are currently undergoing treatment at Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital, where the bride remains under close medical observation.
The incident occurred around 12:30 PM when the 26-year-old accused, a neighbour of the victim, entered the house and mingled with the guests. Witnesses reported that the two women appeared to be conversing normally about henna designs before the accused suddenly pulled out a bottle and doused the victim’s face with acid. Amidst the screams and chaos that followed, family members and attendees managed to overpower the attacker and hold her until the police arrived. The Gokalpuri police have since arrested the woman and recovered the bottle used in the crime.
Preliminary police investigations suggest that the attack was a premeditated act driven by jealousy. The accused had allegedly been in a relationship with the groom-to-be for the past five years and was vehemently opposed to the upcoming marriage. Authorities have produced the accused before a local court, which has remanded her to judicial custody. A separate probe has also been initiated to trace the source of the acid, as the sale of such substances remains strictly regulated.
