Marriage proposal rejection leads to acid attack on woman

By Sumesh Rajan | May 04, 2025

 

Mau, Uttar Pradesh – A 25-year-old woman is in critical condition with severe burns after a man allegedly threw acid on her in a targeted attack in northern India’s Mau district, authorities said on Saturday May 3. The assault, which took place in broad daylight, was reportedly motivated by the victim’s refusal to marry the accused.

The woman was returning home from a bank in the Akhipur area on May 1 when she was confronted by the suspect and doused with acid. She sustained burns to her face, neck, and shoulder and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Azamgarh. Medical professionals said she has suffered burns over 60 percent of her body.

Police have identified the main suspect as Ramjanam Singh Patel, a married man with four children, who allegedly had a relationship with the woman for five years. Investigators said Patel became enraged after learning that the woman was engaged and set to be married later this month. Her engagement ceremony was scheduled for May 23, with the wedding planned for May 27.

According to police, Patel conspired with two associates—identified as Suresh Yadav and Manoj Yadav—to carry out the attack. The trio allegedly intercepted the victim as she returned from the bank and executed the premeditated assault. The accused fled the scene but were later apprehended by local authorities following a swift investigation.

“The attack was planned in retaliation after the victim refused to marry the accused,” said Senior Superintendent of Police Mahesh Singh. “All three suspects have been arrested, and the acid used in the attack has been recovered.”

The victim, while in the hospital, provided a statement identifying Patel as the attacker, which formed the basis of a formal case. Police have registered charges under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including attempted murder and criminal conspiracy.

Acid attacks remain a persistent form of gender-based violence in parts of India, often linked to rejected romantic advances, marital disputes, or land-related conflicts. Though the country has tightened regulations on acid sales and introduced stricter punishments in recent years, such attacks continue to highlight the need for more comprehensive protections for women and harsher deterrents for perpetrators.

The incident has sparked outrage on social media and renewed calls from women’s rights groups for faster trials and stronger enforcement of anti-acid sale laws.