Mumbai: Woman attacked with chemical, robbers flee with her laptop

The robbers threw a white powder into the woman’s face before snatching her valuables. REPRESENTATION PIC

Two bike-borne thieves attacked an aspiring UPSC student with a hazardous white powder before escaping with her laptop. The woman sustained injuries on her face as the chemical burnt her duppatta, the police said. The incident took place near J ward in Kalyan East while the victim was returning from her classes. The Kolshewadi police have registered a case and are trying to identify the accused persons with the help of CCTV footage. The woman is a resident of Andheri and is preparing for UPSC exams. Recalling the fateful day, she said.

"I had borrowed a laptop from my friend a few days ago and thought of returning while I was on my way home from after attending classes in Kalyan. I got down at Kalyan station and was walking towards the east side. After coming out of the station I took a left turn when two people on a bike came near me and threw some substance at me," she said. The woman was shocked by the sudden attack however she narrowly escaped from being blinded as she had shut her eyes. "The powder distracted me as I experienced itching. The substance had resulted in burning my duppata and dress. Before I could react the accused took away the bag that had a laptop in it and ran away. Instead of wasting any time I approached the police to file a case."

The police said the incident took place near the parking area in the J Ward area of Kalyan East. In this incident the young woman has sustained minor injuries. "Caustic substance was thrown on her body. She closed her eyes but her body sustained burn injuries. The young woman is undergoing treatment in the hospital," said a police officer.

Ashok Kadam, senior police inspector, Kolshewadi police station said, "The girl was passing from the parking area, when two accused threw the white powder on her. We have formed a team of detection officers who have started the search of the accused by scrutinizing the CCTV footage from the nearby areas. The suspects have been booked for theft of laptop which they snatched from the woman." The suspects will also face charges for causing bodily harm.