A 14-year-old schoolgirl in Rajasthan suffered burn injuries after a 19-year-old photographer threw acid at her for rebuffing his attempts at contact, police said following the arrest of the accused after a three-day manhunt.
The class 9 student was walking to school in the Subhash Park area of Sri Ganganagar district when the attack occurred. While her clothes and one finger sustained burns, authorities said a more severe tragedy was narrowly avoided.
Police identified the accused as Omprakash, also known as Jani, son of Chandraram Meghwal. During interrogation, he revealed he first noticed the minor at a wedding function where he was working as a photographer. When he subsequently attempted to establish contact with her, the girl scolded and rejected him, which allegedly wounded his pride and prompted him to plot revenge.
On the day of the attack, Omprakash rode past the victim as she headed to school and hurled a bottle containing acid at her. Authorities said he had carefully planned not only the assault but also his getaway, covering his face with cloth and a helmet while wrapping the motorcycle’s registration plate to avoid identification.
According to police officials, the accused was driven by frustration over his one-sided romantic interest being rejected.
The incident was recorded on surveillance cameras in the area, but the deliberate concealment of the attacker’s identity and vehicle details initially hampered the investigation. Law enforcement teams analyzed CCTV footage from multiple locations and used a combination of technical surveillance and local intelligence to track down the suspect.
Superintendent of Police Dr Amrita Duhan had announced a cash reward of Rs 25,000 for information leading to the accused’s identification and capture.
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Following his arrest on Monday, police paraded Omprakash through a public market in a demonstration intended to serve as a deterrent against similar crimes and reinforce respect for the law among residents.
Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into all aspects of the case and are pursuing additional legal proceedings against the accused.
