Bangalore, June 17, 2011: Yet another woman in the City became a victim of acid attack on Friday, after nearly a gap of three years.
Syeda Rahmatunnissa with husband Abdul Wakeel. Thirty-two-year-old Syeda Rahmatunnissa, a fashion designer, was to get talaq from her husband in a few days’ time. On Friday morning, however, Abdul Wakeel allegedly threw acid on her. With 20 per cent burns on her face and neck, Syeda was admitted to City’s DG Hospital at Padmanabhanagar.
Syeda was supposed to get “talaq” as the couple was on “iddat” (period of waiting). According to relatives, Friday was the last day of “iddat”.
Wakeel threw acid on Syeda’s face because he didn’t want her to remarry. The couple, from Tiptur, had married despite stiff resistance from their families.
They have two children.
For the last 13 years, Rahmatunnissa allegedly faced harassment at the hands of Wakeel. Wakeel reportedly failed to shoulder any responsibility and tortured his wife.
Last week they moved to Bhuvaneswari Nagar near Kadirenahalli at Subramanyapura from K S Layout. On Friday, around 8:35 am, both children—11-year-old Sufia and eight-year-old Afreen—had just left for school. Syeda completed the household chores and was about to go for a bath. Wakeel picked a fight and got into a heated argument.
Suddenly, he threw acid on her when she was entering the bathroom.
Wakeel is absconding. He was working for a finance firm at Indiranagar and is said to be irregular at the workplace.
A few months ago, some elders tried for reconciliation. When things didn’t work, she was forced to take a decision to live on her own. Hospital medical director Dr Rizwan said Syeda suffered second and third degree burns. Her condition is stable. She is under observation.