Karnataka to bear treatment cost of acid attack victim, teams formed to nab accused

Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Saturday, April 30, said the state government will take care of medical treatment cost of a 24-year old woman who was attacked with acid by her stalker earlier this week, and assured that the culprit won't be spared. The minister visited the woman, who is being treated in the ICU at St John's Hospital in Bengaluru, and spoke to her and expressed solidarity with her family.

"The government will not spare the culprit who is responsible for such a heinous act...the government stands with them (survivor and her family) and the treatment of the woman will be taken care of by the government," Sudhakar said. Condemning the acid attack, he said, "This is an inhuman incident which is shameful and unbecoming for a civilised society, and cases like these must be trialled in fast-track courts and the culprits must be punished quickly. Only then, we can send a stern message to such anti-social elements and create a deterrent."

A stalker, identified as 27-year-old Nagesh, threw acid on the woman in Bengaluru on Thursday, April 29. Police earlier reportedly said that he had tried to force the woman into a relationship. As per a statement she gave to the police, he had been harassing her for seven years. 

Stating that the health department will extend all support for the treatment of the survivor, Sudhakar said the woman has suffered 35% burns and is being treated in the ICU.

"Skin graft necessary for treatment will be sourced from the skin bank at BMCRI (Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute). I have decided to personally give Rs 5 lakh to the victim. Our government will ensure all support to the victim and her family, be it treatment, rehabilitation and securing the future of the girl," he said. Society needs to collectively think and act to ensure that such incidents are not repeated and work towards building a safe environment for women, the minister added.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant, who also met the woman, said an investigation is on and seven teams have gone to various places, including other states, to gather information about the culprit and will be successful in the efforts to nab him very soon. "....investigation is on, we have got some clues about the culprit's whereabouts," he added.