Four-year-old Ayush More got caught in the crossfire when, after a tiff with his mother, a neighbour flung acid at his face in a fit of rage.
The neighbour has been identified as Asha Gavane, 37, a resident of Filterpada in Powai. She works as a sweeper in the BMC-run Nair Hospital.
Gavane would reportedly get into frequent petty quarrels with Ayush’s mother, and on Wednesday at around 8pm, one such quarrel over a petty issue turned into a huge argument. Angered, Gavane headed back into her house and returned with a bottle of acid, which is primarily used as a floor cleaner. In an act of vengeance, she flung the acid on Ayush.
The boy was rushed to the private-run Aashirwad Hospital in Saki Naka for treatment, and doctors treating him said he has sustained 20-30% superficial to deep burns on one side of his face and other parts of his body.
The Powai police have arrested Gavane, and further investigation is underway.
