Criminals pour acid on sleeping sisters at home

Two sisters suffered burn injuries after criminals attacked them with acid in Bhola yesterday afternoon.

The victims -- Tanjim Akhter Mala, 16, and her younger sister Marjia, 7 -- are both daughters of Helal Rari of Kushia village in Bhola.

Md Sagir Mia, officer-in charge (OC) of Bhola Police Station, quoting victims' statement, said that Marjia had left the house at around 2:30pm yesterday. After she came back, she found Mala asleep. Leaving the door unlocked, Marjia fell asleep next to her sister.

The two miscreants then entered the home, threw acid on the sleeping sisters and fled immediately. The other family members in the house heard their screams and rushed to find them with burn injuries on their faces, hands and chests.

The victims' mother, Zannatul Ferdous, filed a case accusing two people. Police have already arrested Yousuf, 26, one of the alleged attackers.

A cousin of the victims, Md Shamsuddin, said Rajib, another alleged attacker and also another cousin, used to disturb Mala and had also proposed to her but she refused.

The victims were admitted to Bhola Medical College Hospital. On-duty doctors later referred them to Sher-e- Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) in Barisal.

Dr Azad Sajal, Sr Consultant of the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery of SBMCH, said Mala is suffering from 25 percent burns, while Marjia is suffering from above 14 percent.

Police are trying to find and arrest Rajib, who is said to be currently in Dhaka.