Tezaab Trauma: Even as Rajasthan is ‘safe’ for women but...

On Valentine's Day, when the Assembly had resumed for a debate on the state Budget which was presented by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on February 12, little did Home minister Gulab Chand Kataria know that a tezaab attack was brewing in the backyard which would later have reduced his claims of a "safer" Rajasthan for women to ashes!

Kataria in the first session had informed the House that there has been reduction in crime against women by 12 % in the state.

Meanwhile, after being turned down by a woman, a spurned lover splashed acid on her. The shocking incident occurred at Jhotwara area of the city. The accused has been arrested. The victim has been admitted to hospital. The accused has two wives and wanted a third one! After being rejected, Mehboob in a fit of rage committed the crime.

At the assembly, Kataria also informed that crime against women has risen in 5 districts of the state between 2013-2017. In a reply given in assembly, Kataria on Wednesday, informed that in Bharatpur , crime rate has risen from 418 to 511 cases.  In Sawai Madhopur,  423 cases were reported in 2013 and now it's pegged at 525.

In Jodhpur, the number of crime cases against women was 377 which is now 431. In Barmer, it has risen from 584 to 653 and in Baran, it now reads 811. The earlier figure was 683.

The acid attack incident took place around Wednesday afternoon at Triton Mall. Reshma (name changed) a 27-year-old woman and a resident of Bhatta Basti area had gone there. “While Reshma was there, Mehboob, 38, reached the place and started talking to her. The man even asked her to marry him," said Gur Bhupendra Singh, Station House Officer, Jhotwara police station.

Officials said Mehboob was stalking Reshma for weeks and was bothering her too. On Wednesday, when he asked her to marry him, she flat refused and in fit of rage, Mehboob, who was carrying acid. threw it on her. Reshma was badly burnt. Portion of the floor and wall of the mall too were damaged by the acid attack.

Even as Reshma yelled in pain, onlookers assembled and thrashed Mehboob.

Kataria was replying to a question asked by BJP MLA Dropadi from Pilibanga who had wanted to know about crime rate against women in Hanumangarh and wanted to know about the setting up of police stations at all sub-division offices level across the state.

Home minister Kataria while giving the data on crime against women claimed that there has been reduction in crime by 12 % against women across the state . He informed that between 2008 and 2013 there was rise of 91% ,those crimes have gone down and have been reduced by 12%.

It was only in 4 to 5 districts he said where the number of crime cases against women have gone up.

Prior to his reply, Dropadi had demanded that women police stations be opened at all SDO level places across the state as in many places in which she gave reference of Hanumangarh, the women police station were far off  at district headquarters.

After his reply, another BJP MLA Suryakanta Vyas from Soorsagar asked if there were any plans to make set up more women police stations in Jodhpur. She informed that Jodhpur comes second to Jaipur only and there is scarcity of women police station there .

After her question, Chandrakanta Meghwal BJP MLA from Ramganj Mandi said that since 300 cases have been registered in Kota, there was need to installed a good network of CCTVs.  Kataria gave details of the existing women police stations and the number of cases in Jodhpur to Vyas and assured Meghwal that the CCTV in adequate number will be installed.

Meanwhile, after the heinous act by Mehboob in Jhotwara, the police was called in. “Mehboob was nabbed. He had also sustained burn injuries while hurling the same on the victim. Senior police officials reached the hospital and the administration has been directed to offer adequate treatment free of cost,” officials said.

ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

• Reshma (Name changed) visited Triton Mall
• Mehboob stalked her and started bothering Reshma. He even asked her to marry him
• When she refused, In a fit of rage, Mehboob splashed acid on her
• When she yelled out of pain, Onlookers thrashed Mehboob