‘Friend’ who threw acid on UP doctor’s children gets 20 yrs in jail

Bareilly: A court in Bareilly has sentenced a juvenile (at the time of the incident) to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for carrying out an acid attack on a doctor’s daughter and son in the city’s Izzatnagar area in 2023. The young siblings suffered severe burn injuries and had to undergo prolonged medical procedures to recover from the scars which remain till date.

Delivering the verdict on Friday, the court of the additional district judge observed that “acid attacks cause irreversible physical and psychological trauma”, and stressed the need for stringent deterrent punishment.

The incident took place on Sept 26, when the accused, who knew the children, entered the doctor’s rented house around 3.30am and targeted his two kids. The doctor’s daughter was a NEET aspirant and his son, a Class XI student.

Prosecution stated that the youth had earlier harassed the doctor’s daughter with repeated phone calls, and also objected to her speaking to another student.

During the trial, the girl testified that she was awake when she suddenly felt a liquid on her face, followed by severe burning. She said she saw the intruder and raised the alarm. The attacker then threw acid on her brother before fleeing.

The prosecution presented medical reports, eyewitness testimonies, forensic evidence and material exhibits, including acid-burnt clothes and bedding from the room.

Senior public prosecutor Rajeev Tiwari said the court took a serious view of the offence. He added: “This conviction is based on strong evidence, and the punishment reflects the gravity of the act.”