The 21-year-old bride-to-be who was attacked with acid, allegedly by the groom's girlfriend in northeast Delhi's Gokalpuri area, remains critical at the Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital, the police said. She has suffered burns on her eyes, face, neck, and hands after being attacked on Tuesday afternoon at her Indira Vihar house, where a "mehendi" ritual was underway.
The incident is particularly horrifying as the 26-year-old accused was a neighbour of the victim and the two had known each other for years. She had the liberty to visit the victim's house as she pleased.
Attacker eats with happy family before crime
According to available information, the accused arrived at the house around breakfast time on Tuesday, spending hours alongside the happy gathering. According to the victim's younger sister, ahead of the shocking crime, the woman asked the victim to apply henna to her hands.
As the bride-to-be started to apply the henna, the accused insisted that she sit against the wall. Then, she brought out two sippers from her bag, claiming them to be an energy drink and lemonade, Hindustan Times said in a report.
In a flash, the accused opened the sippers and emptied them onto the victim's face and upper body. As she screamed in pain, the accused said, "Now, you drink this," the report quoted her sister as saying.
After committing the horrific act, she attempted to flee the house but was caught by the guests gathered for the "mehendi" and handed over to the police. By the time a team from the police station reached the house, the woman had already been taken to the hospital.
"Investigations revealed that the victim's marriage had been fixed with a man, and the wedding was scheduled for the near future. However, the accused woman, who was reportedly in a relationship with the same man, was opposed to the marriage. Driven by jealousy and anger, the accused allegedly attacked the victim by throwing acid on her," the police said.
The police are now trying to locate the source of the acid used in the crime.