Eyewitness identifies Bandra acid attack ‘killer’
A prime witness on Thursday identified Ankur Panwar in a special women’s court on Thursday. Panwar is accused of throwing acid on his neighbour, nurse Preeti Rathi, at Bandra station in May 2013. The acid eventually killed Rathi. Jealousy is being cited as the motive for the murder.
The witness, Salman Sheikh, a scrap collector, told the court that he ran after Panwar after another collector shouted after him soon after the incident. According to the prosecution Panwar had covered his face with a handkerchief. Salman told the court that Panwar’s handkerchief fell off and he could see Panwar’s face when he turned while on the run. Sheikh was corroborating the statement of Sameer Sheikh, an eyewitness to the incident who had deposed on Tuesday.
Sameer, also a rag picker, narrated the entire incident saying that a man who had covered his face with a handkerchief had flung a transparent liquid from a plastic container onto a girl. Sameer began to scream as soon as this happened and tried following the man.
Preeti, 22, had been attacked minutes after she and her family got off the Garib Rath train at Bandra Terminus around 8 am on May 2, 2013.
Panwar, her neighbour, was allegedly jealous that she had landed a nursing job with the Navy, and had been asked to report to INS Ashwini at Colaba. The police said that Panwar, 22, was constantly being pushed to match the career accomplishments of Preeti, also 22.
They also said that Panwar liked Preeti, but she did not reciprocate his feelings. This, coupled with the fact that she was faring better than him, led him to take the drastic step.
Panwar has been charged with murder, causing permanent or partial damage and disability and throwing acid on a person. He faces life imprisonment or the death penalty.
The witness, Salman Sheikh, a scrap collector, told the court that he ran after Panwar after another collector shouted after him soon after the incident. According to the prosecution Panwar had covered his face with a handkerchief. Salman told the court that Panwar’s handkerchief fell off and he could see Panwar’s face when he turned while on the run. Sheikh was corroborating the statement of Sameer Sheikh, an eyewitness to the incident who had deposed on Tuesday.
Sameer, also a rag picker, narrated the entire incident saying that a man who had covered his face with a handkerchief had flung a transparent liquid from a plastic container onto a girl. Sameer began to scream as soon as this happened and tried following the man.
“So far seven witnesses have testified and one witness has identified Panwar while the other narrated the incident,” Prakash Ware, Panwar’s lawyer, said.
Preeti, 22, had been attacked minutes after she and her family got off the Garib Rath train at Bandra Terminus around 8 am on May 2, 2013.
Panwar, her neighbour, was allegedly jealous that she had landed a nursing job with the Navy, and had been asked to report to INS Ashwini at Colaba. The police said that Panwar, 22, was constantly being pushed to match the career accomplishments of Preeti, also 22.
They also said that Panwar liked Preeti, but she did not reciprocate his feelings. This, coupled with the fact that she was faring better than him, led him to take the drastic step.
Panwar has been charged with murder, causing permanent or partial damage and disability and throwing acid on a person. He faces life imprisonment or the death penalty.
