Chennai: On a Monday evening, a 47-year-old woman came to Old Bus Stand in Salem with her mother to head back to her home in Namakkal after appearing in the Town All Women Police Station to express her dislike to reside with her husband and to seek a divorce. Somewhere from the crowd at the Bus Stand, suddenly her husband came in front of her and even before the duo could speak to him, he took out a bottle of acid and threw it at her face. She immediately cried out in unbearable pain and was rushed to the hospital by passersby but she succumbed without responding to treatment.
Revathi (47), a resident of Rasipuram in Namakkal district, seperated from her husband Yesudas of Namakkal three months ago allegedly since Yesudas suspected Revathi of cheating him. Revathi then moved to her mother Arrayi's home with her three children.
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In this backdrop, on Monday, Revathi appeared for an investigation into a complaint filed by her against her husband at Town All Women Police Station. She allegedly informed the police that she does not want to live with her husband and sought a divorce. Later, she left the police station and was returning to take a bus to her home in Namakkal. However, Yesudas reached the spot and threw acid on Revathi.
On seeing her cry out in pain, the people rushed her to a Government Hospital in Kumaramangalam but Revathi sustained 70% burns and her mother sustained minor injuries. The Salem city police registered a complaint and arrested Yesudas from his hideout on Monday night.
The acid attack incident has shocked the state and women rights’ activists fear that such incidents might increase if the case is not dealt with an iron-fist. Hence, S Ilavarasi of All India Revolutionary Women's Organisation said, "The police should act with iron fist to ensure that such a crime against women do not take place once again and to give compensation to the victim's kin."