The Tribune, January 12, 2000
Living under shadow of fear
From Our Correspondent
ROHTAK, Jan 11 — Mrs Reeta Behal (45) is a shattered woman today. She is yet to overcome the trauma of seeing her young unmarried daughter die of acid burn.
The police has failed to arrest the culprits responsible for this heinous crime committed about nine months ago. In the meantime, the family is facing threats from the accused.
Mrs Behal's 20-year-old daughter Meena who was working as a teacher in a school here was returning home when three youths, including the main accused identified as Ved Parkash, alias "Vedu, allegedly threw acid on her. She suffered about 80 per cent burns and succumbed to her injuries within hours.
The accused, who escaped after the incident, remains untraced. It is leant that Ved Prakash wanted to marry Meena who spurned the offer as the accused did not have a good reputation.
The incident took place on April 16, 1999.
Meena's mother says the accused had begun to harass her daughter and the family when they ignored his marriage proposal. They had submitted an application to a nearby police post about the matter, but no action against the culprit was initiated. She says if the police had taken the complaint seriously, her daughter could have been alive today.
Mrs Behal says the police does not seem to be interested in arresting the culprit who she claims was seen by local residents about a month ago. She says the family has received threats to give up the matter or face death.
The SSP, when contacted, said the accused had been announced a proclaimed offender. Several raids had been conducted at possible hideouts.
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