Tribal woman hit in eye with arrow in UP

A tribal woman was hit in one of her eyes with an arrow in Uttar Pradesh's tribal-dominated Sonebhadra district, about 450 km from here.

The woman, a resident of Amkhas village in the district, was attacked by a youth armed with bows and arrows on Wednesday night when she was sleeping at home. He is a resident of the same village.

Police sources here said one of the arrows hit the woman, who works as a daily wager, just below her left eye, causing a lot of damage.

The arrow pierced the bones and got stuck there, sources said. The doctors at the district hospital, where she was rushed to, could not take the arrow out despite all efforts.

The woman, whose condition is stated to be critical, was referred to the Benaras Hindu University (BHU) medical college hospital on Thursday, police sources said.

The police said the woman's husband had deserted her two years ago and that she lived alone in her house.

The accused has been absconding and a hunt has been launched to nab him, police said.

Sonebhadra district is home to a large number of tribes, such as the Agariya, Baiga, Bhuia and Chero. The tribals, especially in the remote parts of the naxalite-infested district, still use bows and arrows mainly to protect themselves from animals.