Acid attacker still at large

Police have yet not arrested or identified the man who threw acid on two school girls nearly three weeks ago in Jhochhen, Kathmandu.

As women rights activists, civil society members, students and youths continue to stage demonstrations demanding justice for the acid attack victims, police on Friday briefed journalists about the progress they have made so far.

"We are close to identifying the assailant," said Police AIG Bigyan Raj Sharma. "We hope to arrest him very soon."

Police say they have so far interrogated five shops selling acid in Kathmandu, 99 regular acid users, four teachers working at A Plus tuition centre where the incident took place, 21 students and friends and relatives of the victims. They say they have also traced mobile calls and checked CCTV footages.

"'Despite all our efforts, we have failed to arrest the perpetrator as victims and eye-witnesses have described his physical appearance in different ways," said AIG Sharma. "Some say he was wearing a hood while others say a cap."

On 22 February, 16-year-old Sangita Magar and 15-year-old Sima Basnet were attacked with acid. An unidentified man had thrown acid on them when they were waiting for their tuition class to begin.

Sangita has suffered severe burns on her face, neck and limbs and is undergoing treatment at Kathmandu Medical College. Sima has suffered burns on her face is now at Bir Hospital.

The Jhochhen acid attack has sparked outrage across the country. Various NGOs, civil society groups and students have been organising rallies protesting the delay in arresting the assailant.

A few days ago, Sima had written a letter from her hospital bed to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala urging the government to arrest the perpetrator and take stern actions against him.

In response, Prime Minister Koirala had instructed police authorities to nab the assailant. He had also promised to bear all treatment costs of the victims.

Sangita and Sima are yet to be discharged from the hospitals but they want to appear in this year's SLC exams scheduled to begin on 19 March. They say they have worked hard to appear in the exams and do not want to waste one year. Prime Minister has also instructed concerned authorities to make arrangements for them to appear in the exams from the hospitals.