A 51-year-old woman of Maharajgunj Bazaar in Kapilvastu district sustained severe burn injuries on her face and chest after her neighbour threw acid on her on Friday evening.

Bedamati Devi Gupta, who was attacked by her neighbour Hari Narayan Barai following a spat, is receiving treatment at Universal College of Medical Sciences in Bhairahawa. 

“The victim is in critical condition. She cannot speak; she is communicating with the gesture of her hands,” said Dipesh Kharel, inspector of Ward Police Office in Chandrauta.

The dispute arose over a broken cricket bat. Gupta’s son Yuvraj and Barai’s son Rahul, among other children, were playing cricket on the street on Friday evening when the latter’s bat broke. A quarrel among the children ensued, which was later joined by the guardians as well. According to Ashok Shribastav, sub-inspector of the Area Police Office in Maharajgunj, Gupta and Barai had a heated argument over the issue of providing compensation for the broken cricket bat. 

Following the argument, Barai, who is a battery mechanic, got the corrosive from his own shop and threw it on Gupta. She was immediately rushed to Taulihawa for treatment. But since her treatment was not possible there, Gupta was later taken to the Provincial Hospital in Butwal, which again referred her to Universal College of Medical Sciences. 

Security personnel on Saturday arrested Barai for investigation. Deputy Superintendent of Police Sunil Malla said an attempted murder charge has been filed against Barai. He will be presented to the Kapilvastu District Court on Monday to extend his remand.

The incidents of acid attack on women are unchecked in the country. Fifteen-year-old Muskan Khatun of Chhapakaiya in Birgunj was severely injured in an acid attack in September 2019. Samsad Miya, 16, poured acid on her for rebuffing the romantic overtures of his friend Majid Alam. Similarly, in May last year, Jenny Khadka, 20, was thrown acid by her ex-husband at Kalopul in Kathmandu.