Acid attack victim's family demands CBI probe

A day after Preeti Rathi succumbed to acid attack injuries at Bombay Hospital, her family met Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil and demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the case.

Preeti's father Amar Singh, mother and other family members and some social activists met Patil and expressed anguish over the pace of probe being conducted by the Government Railway Police.

"We do not trust the GRP investigation. We want a CBI inquiry. Patil assured us that he will speak to the CBI director on our demand," said Preeti's cousin Samsher Singh.

Preeti, who died on Saturday, was on ventilator support for two weeks. Her right lung had suffered severe damage in the acid attack and also developed complications in the upper respiratory system.

An unidentified man flung acid on Preeti when she got down from Garib Rath Express at Bandra Terminus in Mumbai on May 2. She was supposed to join the Colaba Naval Hospital 'INS Ashwini' as a staff nurse.

"The home minister assured us of a CBI probe into Preeti's death after we put the demand before him today," Alok Dixit of ‘Stop Acid Attacks’ campaign said after meeting the
minister.

Five people from various parts of the country, who survived acid attacks earlier, were also part of the delegation. They came to Mumbai to extend moral support to the victim's family.

The ‘Stop Acid Attack’ campaigners also submitted a memorandum to the home minister, expressing anguish over the pace of probe being conducted by the GRP into acid attack on Preeti.

"It's alarming to witness the threat women face at public places in this state. But what scares us more is the absolute lack or negligent investigation. It has been found that the accused arrested by the GRP was present in another state at the time of the crime and is a friend of the victim, as claimed by the father," the memorandum said.