Married man throws acid on ex-girlfriend days before her wedding in UP's Mau

Mau (UP): A married man and his accomplices on Saturday threw acid on his alleged girlfriend, enraged over her impending marriage to another person, police here said.

The 25-year-old woman, who was preparing for her tilak ceremony on May 23 and wedding on May 27, sustained 60 per cent burns in the attack, which took place in Ghosi Kotwali area of Mau district, they said.

Three individuals -- including the main accused Ram Janam Singh Patel and his accomplices Manoj Yadav and Surendra Yadav -- have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Police said the victim, resident of a village in Ghosi Kotwali area, was returning home after withdrawing money from a bank, when she was ambushed by two masked motorcycle-borne men who threw acid on her.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mahesh Singh Atri said, "The substance severely burned the girl's face, neck and shoulder, leaving her in a critical condition. She was rushed to a hospital in Azamgarh, where doctors assessed her burns at around 60 per cent." In her statement to the police at the hospital, the woman recounted one of the attackers as threatening "if you don't become mine, I will not let you become anyone else's", the officer said.

According to police, Ram Janam Singh Patel, who is already married and has four children, said he had been in an alleged five-year romantic relationship with the acid attack victim.

Upon learning that her marriage was fixed with another person, Patel orchestrated the attack with the assistance of Surendra and Manoj.

During interrogation, Patel admitted that he wanted to marry the woman, police said.

They said an FIR has been registered in the case and all the three accused arrested. The motorcycle used in the crime has also been recovered.