Crime in Odisha / One-Sided Love Turns Violent: 72-Year-Old Man Arrested for Acid Attack in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Oct 1: A 72-year-old man was arrested for allegedly attempting to murder a young woman by forcing her to consume acid and hurling the corrosive substance at her in in Kharvel Nagar area here in Odisha, police said on Thursday.

The accused has been identified as Basant Ashwini Choudhury.

Police said the accused was arrested following an investigation which revealed that he allegedly attacked the woman after developing a one-sided affection towards her and learning that her marriage had been arranged elsewhere.

According to police, the survivor had been residing with her visually impaired father at a shelter home in Unit-III under the Kharvel Nagar police limits for the past four to five years. She was employed there as a caretaker.

The incident allegedly occurred around 1 AM on August 30 when the woman was asleep in her room. Police said Choudhury entered the premises by scaling a boundary wall and gained access to her room.

Investigators alleged that the accused grabbed the woman by the neck and attempted to force her to consume a chemical substance with the intention of killing her. When she resisted, he allegedly threw acid at her face, causing severe burn injuries.

Hearing her screams, her father and other residents of the shelter rushed to her aid and rescued her. She was immediately taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a private hospital in Bhubaneswar, where she underwent treatment for her injuries.

Police said that after the alleged attack, Choudhury attempted suicide by slitting the veins of both his hands, injuring his neck and consuming acid. He was admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack in a critical condition and later recovered.

During the investigation, police found that the accused had allegedly developed a one-sided affection towards the woman. Investigators said he became resentful after learning that her marriage had been arranged elsewhere and subsequently planned the attack.
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After being discharged from hospital, Choudhury was brought to the police station for questioning. Based on evidence collected from the scene, witness statements and findings of the scientific team, Kharvel Nagar police arrested him and produced him before a court.

Police said further investigation into the case is underway.