Jharsuguda acid attack survivor battles for life, kids fend for themselves

The death of a woman following an acid attack by her husband in Odisha’s Balasore has brought into focus the plight of another acid attack survivor from Jharsuguda who has been left battling for her life in Cuttack-based SCB Medical College and Hospital.

The victim is a widow. The Jharsuguda police have miserably failed to arrest the two accused who are still on the run after the incident.

Although over 20 days have passed, the accused are roaming around free with no arrest due to the alleged lackadaisical attitude of the local police. Meanwhile, the widow’s two little children aged 13 and 9 respectively have been left to fend for themselves with little to no help from the government.

According to sources, the widow lived with her 13-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter after the death of her husband. She had recently joined as a peon at Arda High School in Jharsuguda.

On February 7, she was returning home after her duty on a scooter when two miscreants threw acid at her. She was initially admitted to the local hospital and was then referred to Cuttack-based SCB where her condition remains critical.

When contacted, SDPO Nirmala Mahapatra said, “We are looking into all angles if she had any enmity with anyone in the area. The two miscreants are yet to be identified. We will make a lead in the case very soon and arrest the miscreants.”

 

(Reported by Bhagirathi Sahu, OTV)