3 acid throwers jailed in Kushtia

A court here yesterday sentenced three people to imprisonment of different terms for throwing acid on a newly-wed woman in Khoksa upazila of the district in 2013.

District and Sessions Judge Arup Kumar Goshwami pronounced the verdict in presence of the convicts.

The convicts are Hafiz Sheikh, 30, son of Halim Sheikh of Nishchintabaria, Rajib Biswas, 28, son of Jalal Biswas of Shomospur and Jewel Rana, 29, son of Shahjahan Ali of Kondbila of the upazila.

Hafiz was jailed for 14 years while Rajib and Jewel got seven years each. The court also fined them Tk 50,000 each and the money will be given to the victim.

According to the prosecution, Hafiz and his two friends threw acid on newly-wed Kakoli Khatun, wife of Panju Mia of Boriochara village, through a window at her husband's house on September 13 in 2013.

Kakoli, who was married just a month before, sustained severe burn injuries on the left side of her face and left hand. Panju also sustained burn injuries on his hand.

Critically injured Kakoli, daughter of farmer Kamrul Islam of Nischintabaria, was rushed to Kushtia Medical College Hospital. She was later referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Hafiz had also attempted thrice to throw acid on the woman as she had refused to marry him. He threw acid towards Kakoli for the first time on the night of August 23 the same year when she was sleeping at her father's house, on her first visit after the marriage. The attempt failed.