Friends bemused by victim’s silence

Bismah Malik

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 15

As 21-year-old acid attack victim Samiya (name changed) flew to Chennai for treatment, her friends at college remain bemused by her silence.

A student of the BA LLB at Kashmir Law College, Nowshehra, Samiya was attacked by two unidentified men on Thursday morning in the old city area of Srinagar while she was on her way to college.

All her batch mates and teachers were present when Samiya left for Chennai on Saturday.

The victim’s close friend, who did not wish to be named, said Samiya told the police that they should not harass her friends, especially male colleagues, while carrying out the investigations.

“She only said she doesn’t want her friends name to be dragged into this and then she kept quiet. I am not able to understand why is she quiet? As far as I know, she wasn’t involved in any controversy which could have led to a brazen acid attack to be carried on her,” Samiya’s friend told The Tribune.

She said there were rumours that the attack was to be carried on another girl and Samiya became the victim by mistake.

“She has been a topper of the batch. We know her conduct inside and outside the college. She did not carry grudges against anyone. There was no reason why anyone should attack her like that,” said Fehim-ul-Nisa, Samiya’s class teacher.

Samiya told her friends in Srinagar that she was more worried about her forthcoming exams and now, she would not be able to read the books that she had bought recently.

At Sankara Nethralaya, a leading eye hospital in Chennai, an intraocular lens has been temporarily implanted in Samiya’ right eye.

A plastic surgery may also be carried on her soon to repair the damages caused to the right side of her face in the attack.

Meanwhile, the two assailants remain at large. The accused reportedly tried to flee the city but were denied tickets at the Srinagar airport.

The police have posted details of the car, which the assailants were using, in all important public places so that they may be arrested soon.