Boy arrested for throwing acid on girl outside Random School in Delhi’s Burari

A 16-year-old boy was arrested on Sunday for allegedly throwing some acid-like substance on a girl whom he had chosen as his victim near a school in north Delhi’s Burari area, police said. The attack took place around 1 pm on Wednesday when she had gone to pick up her 10-year-old cousin from a school in Shastri Park Extension in the area. The incident was reported on the same day and an FIR was registered in the matter under sections 326 (B) and 341 of the Indian Penal Code at Burari police station.

The chemical caused burning, itching and irritation on the girl’s eyes, neck and nose, a senior police officer said. After the attack, the girl was taken to the government hospital in Burari. The officer said that he was discharged after treatment.

The police formed three separate teams to identify and arrest the attacker. However, since the victim did not know the attacker or had any previous altercation with him, it became difficult for the police to solve the case. However, the victim reported no history of personal animosity, rejected advances or any romantic relationship with the boy, making the incident a blind case.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Manoj Kumar Meena said, “Unfortunately, there were no surveillance cameras at the crime scene, making the investigation not an easy task.” One of the police teams started profiling the victim, her social media history, Focused on checking previous contacts and other relevant details.

“Another team was tasked with reviewing CCTV footage of six roads leading to the crime scene and making a temporary map of possible routes taken by a suspect,” Meena said. The third team, in plain clothes, , posted near schools with a rough description of the attacker.

“After careful investigation, the CCTV team identified a boy running about a kilometer away, about ten minutes away from the crime scene. His face was not visible, but the boy matched the description given,” said the DCP. The police resorted to playing the video in slow motion and eventually succeeded in getting more accurate details, based on which, the suspect was apprehended.

The officer said that during interrogation the boy confessed to the crime. Evidence including caustic powder, water solution, a small bottle, clothes, bags and handkerchief masks used in the attack were recovered. The clothes the accused was wearing were also recovered.”

The officer said, in the preliminary investigation, the suspect expressed a general dislike towards girls and claimed that he chose the victim without thinking. “He did not know the victim,” he said.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)