Year after acid attack, conflicting accounts and a Jharkhand family still waiting for justice, reconstructive surgery

Indian Express

3 days ago

In April 2024, Hasina Bibi, 37, a single mother of three, was sleeping on the roof of their family-run eatery in the Rajmahal subdivision of Jharkhand's Sahebganj district when, at around midnight, a man allegedly climbed up from a neighbouring building and threw acid on her. Her 13-year-old daughter, elderly mother, and brother were also attacked.
Hasina and her daughter suffered over 50% burns, leaving them permanently disabled. Over a year later, living in a rented house, Hasina says they still receive threats from the accused.
Initially treated at Dhanbad Government Hospital and Ranchi's RIMS for six months, the family was moved to Rajmahal Hospital in October 2024 for contracture treatment and skin grafts. In April 2025, they were referred back to RIMS, but surgery is still pending. Doctors now recommend they be moved to AIIMS Delhi for better treatment. They are yet to be moved.
The daughter, once the winner of a school dance competition, lost an eye and hearing in one ear. Her dreams of becoming a makeup artist are on hold. 'No one from school calls me anymore,' she says.
A writ petition filed in March this year at the Jharkhand High Court by a team of advocates alleged that Hasina's neighbours had set fire to her home in February 2024, following which they had to move to the roof of their eatery. It also said that after the acid attack accused, identified as Manish Kumar, attacked them on the roof, the victims were moved to the dengue ward at the Rajmahal sub-divisional hospital instead of the burns ward. They now live in rented accommodations.
Hasina claims that when Manish attacked them with acid, two others — her neighbours — were standing outside and that it was them who had 'orchestrated the attack'. The police, however, deny this.
The petition at the High Court seeks increased compensation, rehabilitation and suitable shelter.
Meanwhile, a case has been ongoing at a lower court since July 8, last year — based on an FIR filed by Hasina's brother Alam, who was also a victim of the acid attack, in April 2024 under IPC sections 341, 450, 326(a), 504, and 34. Now, Alam has been missing for three months, while Hasina's elder daughter is trying to run the eatery.
The first hearing in the lower court's case was held on August 17 last year, with the next hearing scheduled for June 19, 2025. The FIR names the two neighbours also as accused.
There are conflicting accounts of why the attack happened. Hasina says the motive was a land dispute: 'They wanted my land. When I refused, they tried to kill me.'
She says that her son had eloped with a woman from a different community in 2022, and that the neighbours tried to use the outrage around this to pressure her into leaving her land. She alleges that they roped in Manish to mount further pressure on her.
Police said Manish, 28, who is from Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh and worked at a factory, told them he was romantically involved with Hasina, became jealous, and attacked her after suspecting infidelity. He allegedly admitted to stealing acid from the factory where he worked. He also sustained burns on his face and hands during the attack and was later arrested.
Hasina denies any relationship and alleges that the factory Manish worked in was owned by her neighbour's brother. She says he harassed her and once took her and her daughters to Panipat under false pretences. She also questioned how acid was accessible at the factory.
She also alleged that despite the neighbours being named in the FIR, police are only pursuing Manish.
Vimlesh Tripathi, the Deputy Superintendent of Police and investigating officer, acknowledged the complaint but said their investigations had shown no connection between the neighbours and Manish.
Tripathi says Hasina had an affair with Manish and that he acted out of jealousy — a claim Hasina strongly denies. She says she warned the neighbours about Manish's behaviour just a day before the attack.
When brought back to RIMS on April 4, Hasina and her daughter were admitted to general surgery. 'We just eat, sleep, and wait,' Hasina said. 'Why is no one helping us? This is a question for the entire system.'
RIMS Superintendent Dr Hitendra Birua said Hasina and her daughter had been referred to AIIMS, Delhi, and that the Jharkhand government would cover all treatment costs.
Compensation of Rs 1 lakh was initially given to each family member, and Hasina and her daughter later received Rs 3 lakh more each. Officer Tripathi said this aligns with state government norms of Rs 2-7 lakh per victim based on severity.
However, the petition filed by lawyers in the High Court says this is insufficient and demands at least Rs 25 lakh per victim. 'Even going by the IO's version, they haven't received the full amount. Even the amount set by NALSA (National Legal Services Authority) isn't adequate,' one of the lawyers said.
photo: Inside the family's old house, which was destroyed in a fire. Express
Shubham Tigga hails from Chhattisgarh and studied journalism at the Asian College of Journalism. He previously reported in Chhattisgarh on Indigenous issues and is deeply interested in covering socio-political, human rights, and environmental issues in mainland and NE India.
Presently based in Pune, he reports on civil aviation, other transport sectors, urban mobility, the gig economy, commercial matters, and workers' unions.
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