Mumbai Cops seek info from hospital to trace acid attack suspect

The Mumbai crime branch which is probing the Preeti Rathi acid attack case, has written to all the police stations asking them to collect information from all the hospitals, dispensaries and clinics in their jurisdiction, about a young man who may have received treatment for acid injuries between May 2 and 10, 2013. The police suspect that the accused may have suffered injuries while throwing acid on the girl at the Bandra Railway Terminus on May 2.

According to the police, on May 2, on platform No. 3, a man flung acid on 23-year-old Rathi. Rathi succumbed to injuries during treatment in  hospital.

“In the incident, two women and two men too had sustained acid injuries, when the suspect had thrown acid on Rathi,” said a crime branch officer.

“During our investigation, we believe that it is possible that the suspect too would have sustained some injuries while throwing the acid on Rathi and would have gone to a hospital, dispensary or clinic to receive treatment. We have, hence, written to all the police stations asking them to collect details from all the hospitals, dispensaries and clinics in their jurisdiction, whether a man between the age of 22-25 years received any acid injury treatment between May 2- 10,” said a crime branch officer.

A case was registered under sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to commit murder), 326 (A) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of attack) and 336 (B) (voluntarily throwing or attempting to throw acid) of the Indian Penal Code. The case was later transferred to the Mumbai crime branch for further investigation.

On the trail
Investigators believe that the young man who flung acid at Preeti Rathi at Bandra Terminus would have also susffered burns from the acid and that he may have sought treatment at a hospital, dispensary or clinic.