2013 Mumbai Acid Attack Victim's Parents Want Her Attacker Hanged

Three years ago, Preeti Rathi's family took great pride as the 23-year-old headed to Mumbai to start her career as a naval nurse, never suspecting that their own neighbour would fling acid on her and kill all their hopes. Today, all they hope for is to see him pay for his crime - their prayers now rest with the sessions court, which will pronounce its verdict in the case tomorrow.
 

Delhi resident Preeti had just completed her nursing course and was selected as a lieutenant nurse in the Indian Navy. On May 2, 2013, she was to report for her first day at naval hospital INHS Asvini and had just reached Bandra Terminus along with her father, when her neighbour Ankur Panwar (25) threw acid on her. When the police finally caught up with him in January 2014, almost a year after the incident, they learnt that he had attacked her because he was jealous of her success. Despite spending an exorbitant amount of money on his hotel management education, Ankur was unemployed and was constantly taunted by his parents, who compared him to the younger, more successful Preeti.

'He should hang'

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Preeti's mother, Roshni Rathi said, "He was our neighbour and we knew his family well. I treated him like my son; we saw him grow in front of our eyes. I don't want him to go scot-free. He should be hanged."

For nearly a month, Roshni had watched her daughter fight a losing battle for life after the brutal attack. Preeti eventually succumbed to her injuries and breathed her last on June 1, 2013. "It was very tough to see her that way. She had lost her speech and I couldn't understand who did this to my daughter. She was a very homely person, and never mingled with too many friends," said Roshni.
"The accused didn't think twice before throwing acid on our daughter. Whatever the verdict, my daughter is not going to come back. But we are thankful that the Mumbai police arrested the right person," she added.

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Father has cancer

Without Preeti, life has become hard for the Rathi family. Her father Amar Singh Rathi (61) retired from his job last year, leaving them with no other breadwinner. Preeti's younger brother Hitesh completed a BTech course in Electricals, but is still searching for a job. Times have been particularly tough since Preeti's dad was diagnosed with cancer. "I am suffering from cancer and regularly visit AIIMS for chemotherapy. If Preeti was alive, I would have got better care and treatment. I miss her every moment," he said.

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Case Timeline

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May 2, 2013: Attacked at Bandra Terminus, Preeti Rathi suffers 12-15 per cent burns on her face, neck, arms and deep internal injuries in her throat, as she had swallowed acid

May 8, 2013: First suspect, Pawankumar Azadsingh Gahalon, is arrested by the GRP from Narela, New Delhi

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May 19, 2013: Feeding tube attached to Preeti's stomach. Her chest infection persists

May 22, 2013: Her right lung collapses due to chemical pneumonitis

May 31, 2013: Preeti's kidney stops functioning

June 1, 2013: She dies of multi-organ failure and cardio-respiratory arrest

June 3, 2013: Preeti is cremated around 5 pm, after a day-long protest by her kin. While extending a compensation of R2 lakh, the then Home Minister RR Patil assures them that CBI will probe the murder

Aug 5, 2013: Preeti's father approaches the Bombay High Court, seeking CBI inquiry into the case

Aug 9, 2013: HC grants bail to Gahalon, observing that police had arrested him only on the basis of suspicion

Nov 28, 2013: HC transfers the probe to Mumbai Police

Jan 2014: 45 days after case is transferred to them, Mumbai Crime Branch arrests Ankur Panwar

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)