“Teenager in Delhi Throws Chemical at Girl Following Dispute with Girlfriend”

A 16-year-old boy was apprehended today after allegedly assaulting a girl in north Delhi’s Burari by throwing a mixture of caustic soda and water at her, according to the police. The incident occurred around 1 pm on Wednesday when the girl was en route to pick up her 10-year-old cousin from a school in the Shastri Park Extension area. A case was promptly registered on the same day under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The police indicated that the teenage boy committed the crime following a dispute with his girlfriend. Although he was not acquainted with the victim, he expressed a general aversion to girls. The accused claimed to have randomly selected the girl as his target.

After the attack, the girl reported experiencing a burning sensation, itching, and irritation on her eyes, neck, and nose. She was swiftly taken to a government hospital in Burari, where she received treatment and was later discharged.

In the absence of any prior connection between the victim and the assailant, three police teams were formed to identify, track, and apprehend the attacker. The absence of surveillance cameras at the crime scene posed a challenge for the investigators.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) Manoj Kumar Meena explained the investigative process, stating that one team focused on profiling the victim, examining her social media history, past contacts, and other relevant details. Simultaneously, another team reviewed CCTV footage from the six roads leading to the crime scene. The third team positioned itself near schools, dressed in plainclothes and armed with a rough description of the attacker.

Despite the absence of a visible face in the CCTV footage, the team identified a boy running away from the crime scene about ten minutes apart, roughly a kilometer away. After a thorough scrutiny and by playing back the video in slow motion, the police managed to obtain a more accurate description, ultimately leading to the identification and apprehension of the suspect.

During interrogation, the boy confessed to the crime, providing insight into the motive behind the attack. The incident highlights the swift and strategic efforts of law enforcement in solving the case despite the initial challenges posed by the random nature of the assault and the absence of surveillance footage directly capturing the assailant’s face.