Acid Attack Case: Police Arrests 3 Persons Including Main Accused

‘Girl had rejected boy’s engagement proposal, he was stalking her’, reveals police investigation.

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir police on Wednesday said it arrested the main accused in the “Hawal acid attack” case along with his accomplice.

Police said that during the initial field investigations and technical analysis, the name of one suspect came up which led to the apprehension of the main accused Sajid Altaf Rather, son of Muhammad Altaf Rather, a resident of Buchwara Dalgate.

On the evening of February 1, Tuesday, it was reported that a 24-year-old girl, a resident of Hawal Srinagar was injured after acid was thrown at her.

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, police said.

“SSP Srinagar 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.”

SIT arrested the main accused as his role came into prominence.

During the initial questioning, police said, the girl had rejected the accused’s engagement proposal, and he had been stalking her. “The accused had taken note of the timings of the girl long before the attack. The accused used to work in a medical shop and in the evening of 01.02.2022, he took a break from work and went on a scooty towards the place where the girl used to work along with a co-accused namely Momin Nazir Sheikh, son of Nazir Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Mehjoor Nagar.”

The police statement said that on the victim’s way back home in the evening, she was followed and acid was thrown on her, and afterward, the accused ran away and went back to his shop. “The second accused was also arrested when more evidence in the case came up. The scooty used in the commission of this heinous crime was also seized by Police.”

The police spokesperson said that it further came out that the accused had purchased the Acid from Muhammad Saleem son of Abdul Gani, a resident of Padshahi Bagh, a motor Mechanic who works at international motors Durga Nag near Dal Gate area. He said that Saleem was known to the accused. He has also been arrested for further examination.

“Legal process was also initiated for sealing this workshop as one of its employees had sold acidic material in violation of Hon’ble SC guidelines. This shop was sealed by following due procedure by Executive Magistrate.”