In acid victims' story, a widow, nine daughters and a village -PART 2

The four sisters who were attacked work as temporary teachers at local schools and earn Rs 2,000 each per month. They were returning from exam invigilator duty at the Hindu Inter College School when acid was thrown on them just metres from their house.

While Anjum, 35, has done M.A. in Economics, Jahan, two years younger, is a constable with the Uttar Pradesh Police. Sana has done M.A, and M.Ed and is teaching in a school in Delhi. Alisha did M.A. in Home Science. All four are married.

Isha was planning to give B.Ed exams in June. The Delhi hospital where she is admitted has said the next two weeks will be crucial in determining if her eye can be saved. It has also promised to bear the entire cost of her treatment.

Villagers vouch for Isha's beauty. She won a college beauty contest four years ago, says a worried Alina, the youngest sister who is in Class XI.

SSP Shamli Abdul Hamid said the police had identified some suspects and were questioning them, though no arrests have been made. Admitting that some villagers may have resented the girls working, he added: "As of now we cannot say anything on the reason why they were attacked... Another reason could also be that some students were angry with the victims. There could be a third angle too."

The girls can't identify the men as the one driving was wearing a helmet and the pillion rider who threw the acid had his face covered with a handkerchief. "Both of them were well-built and wearing shabby clothes. They did not utter a word and just attacked us. For a second I thought it was water but the next moment, I felt my eyes burning. Isha and I fainted right there," says Kamerjahan, who also received injuries to her right eye.

The attackers used a bottle meant to spray water, commonly used by a barbers, for the attack.

With the village silence ringing loud, Nur Jahan, who never got swayed by what others thought, now wonders if it is all her fault. "I never asked my daughters to wear a burqa despite all the villagers asking me to. After my husband's death, our relatives discouraged them from pursuing higher education as everyone here believes women aren't meant to study... My daughters have always been outgoing, I hope this is not the reason they were attacked."

The end.
SOURCE- The Indian express

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