Union minister visits acid attack victim, promises action

CHENNAI: Vinodhini, who was blinded last month in an acid attack, has urged Union minister of state V Narayanaswami to take severe action against the accused. She also urged the minister, who spent more than half-an-hour at her hospital bedside on Sunday, to take steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents. On November 14, the 23-year-old engineering graduate who was working in a private company in Chennai, was attacked by a stalker who threw acid on her face. Appu alias Suresh Kumar, 32, from Karaikal, whose overtures the girl had earlier rejected, was arrested the next day. Vinodhini's uncle Ramesh, said the minister had promised to highlight the issue in Parliament. "He agreed that nothing short of capital punishment would act as deterrent in such cases, he also promised assistance for the cost of her treatment and a government job to Vinodhini."A doctor at the hospital where Vinodhini is being treated said she was recovering. All India Democratic Women's Association secretary U Vasuki said, "Rehabilitation of such victims is of paramount importance and the government should provide for their welfare."