Acid Death For Refusing To Marry
KOLKATA, Nov. 26. — Aparna Halder, a 22-year-old woman, who had acid thrown on her and was also forced to drink it by criminals at Diamond Harbour on Tuesday night, died in hospital today. She was allegedly attacked at the behest of her former tutor whom she had refused to marry. The incident coincided with the state observing the international fortnight to protest violence against women.
Utpal Haldar, the former tutor, is absconding while his father has been arrested.
Police said the incident took place when Aparna was called out of her house at Nungola last night, supposedly by the criminals, to identify one of Aparna’s neighbour’s residence. “As soon as she came out, the criminals threw acid on her face and forced her to drink some acid as well before they fled,” police said.
Daughter of a post office employee, Aparna was rushed to a local hospital from where she was shifted to National Medical College in a critical condition. She succumbed to internal injuries there today.
Police are reluctant to disclose details. Officers said investigation was on. A senior district police officer said: “We suspect former tutor Utpal. He proposed to Aparna a few years back. But she refused and her father asked him stop teaching Aparna.”