Gang-rape survivor attacked with acid again in India

A gang-rape and acid attack survivor has once again been attacked with acid in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police said on Sunday (2 July). This is the fifth attack on the woman, who is currently pursuing court cases against two men who had allegedly gang-raped her in 2008 over a property dispute.

The latest attack was carried out by the same suspects, reported The Times of India. Police have detained Bhondu Singh and Guddu Singh, the two men accused of gang raping her, late on Saturday night.

Officials said the woman, a mother of two, was attacked at a hostel in Lucknow's Aliganj area on Saturday night. She was rushed to a hospital where her condition was stated to be stable.

NDTV reported that the attack took place sometime between 8pm and 9pm local time (around 3:30pm BST) when she stepped out of her hostel to fill water from a hand-pump.

She has sustained burn injuries on her face and neck and is undergoing treatment at the trauma centre of the King George Medical University.

No FIR has been registered yet and they are awaiting a complaint, police said.

The attack took place despite the fact that the survivor had round-the-clock police protection and an armed guard.

On 23 March, the woman was allegedly forced to drink acid by two men on a train in which she was travelling with one of her daughters.

Police sources said that in 2012, the woman was attacked with a knife, and in 2013 she was attacked with acid.