A 14-year-old girl was injured when a bike-borne youth allegedly threw acid at her in Dera Baba Nanak area here this evening.
The victim suffered 18 per cent burn injuries on one side of her face and arm. She was admitted to a hospital in Amritsar, SSP Diljinder Singh Dhillon said.
The girl, a resident of Dharmabad village here, was returning home from school along with her five friends when one of two youths riding a motorcycle allegedly threw acid at her, the SSP said.
Her friends suffered minor burn injuries as drops of acid also fell on them, Dhillon said, adding one of the accused was identified as Saajan (19), a resident of Phurewal in Amritsar.
The victim had told her family that the accused was stalking her for the past two-three days. Her family members then raised the matter with Saajan's parents, who possibly reprimanded him.
Upset over this, the accused allegedly threw acid at her, police said.
Saajan was reportedly studying in the same school as the victim but was rusticated for his bad conduct, the SSP said.
A case has been registered against the accused and his unidentified accomplice and hunt is on for them, police said.
Meanwhile, Punjab Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema directed the District Education Officer to immediately release Rs 50 thousand for the girl's treatment, personally visit her at the hospital, and report her condition to him.
Cheema directed SSP Batala to take immediate action against the culprit and told the the Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, to ensure special care and treatment of the victim.
The education minister also spoke to the doctors of Guru Nanak Medical Hospital and the victim's father, and assured him of full support in securing justice.
