Five injured in acid attack over trade rivalry, accused absconding

The Sultanwind police have booked a man for throwing acid on five persons leaving them injured over a trivial issue. The incident occurred in Gulab Nagar Link Road area on Wednesday night. The injured Ram Lakhan, his two sons Sunil Kumar and Amit Kumar, their friend Ravinder Singh and employee Gobinda were admitted to Sri Guru Ram Das Hospital at Vallah.

The accused, identified as Ranjit Kumar, has been absconding since the incident. The police have registered a case under Sections 124 (2) (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid) and 351 (2) (Criminal Intimidation) of the BNS against him.

Sunil Kumar, a resident of the Mehta road, told the police that he along with his brother Amit Kumar runs a factory of zinc and chrome plating (from a rented shed) registered in the name of his father Ram Lakhan. He said Ranjit Kumar also runs a similar factory in another portion of the shed.

He said he had a worker, Gobinda, who lives in the factory. On Wednesday night (at around 9.30pm), he got a call from Gobinda who told him that Ranjit had beaten him up after consuming liquor. He said he along with his brother Amit, father Ram Lakhan and friend Raviner Singh went to the factory where they found Govinda crying outside the shed. He told them that Ranjit, who was drunk, thrashed him.

He said when they knocked the door of the shed, Ranjit came out with a bucket of acid and threw it on them causing burn injuries to them. They were rushed to SGRD Hospital at Vallah where they were under treatment.

Sunil said Ranjit used to trouble his workers as he was his competitor in the business. Due to this he used to trouble his workers and threaten them.

The police said efforts were on to nab the absconding accused.