In April 2024, Hasina Bibi, 37, a single mom of three, was sleeping on the roof of their family-run eatery within the Rajmahal subdivision of Jharkhand’s Sahebganj district when, at round midnight, a person allegedly climbed up from a neighbouring constructing and threw acid on her. Her 13-year-old daughter, aged mom, and brother have been additionally attacked.
Hasina and her daughter suffered over 50% burns, leaving them completely disabled. Over a yr later, residing in a rented home, Hasina says they nonetheless obtain threats from the accused.
Initially handled at Dhanbad Authorities Hospital and Ranchi’s RIMS for six months, the household was moved to Rajmahal Hospital in October 2024 for contracture therapy and pores and skin grafts. In April 2025, they have been referred again to RIMS, however surgical procedure continues to be pending. Medical doctors now suggest they be moved to AIIMS Delhi for higher therapy. They’re but to be moved.
The daughter, as soon as the winner of a faculty dance competitors, misplaced an eye fixed and listening to in a single ear. Her goals of changing into a make-up artist are on maintain. “Nobody from college calls me anymore,” she says.
A writ petition filed in March this yr on the Jharkhand Excessive Court docket by a crew of advocates alleged that Hasina’s neighbours had set hearth to her dwelling in February 2024, following which they needed to transfer to the roof of their eatery. It additionally mentioned that after the acid assault accused, recognized as Manish Kumar, attacked them on the roof, the victims have been moved to the dengue ward on the Rajmahal sub-divisional hospital as an alternative of the burns ward. They now reside in rented lodging.
Hasina claims that when Manish attacked them with acid, two others — her neighbours — have been standing outdoors and that it was them who had “orchestrated the assault”. The police, nonetheless, deny this.
The petition on the Excessive Court docket seeks elevated compensation, rehabilitation and appropriate shelter.
Story continues beneath this advert
In the meantime, a case has been ongoing at a decrease courtroom since July 8, final yr — based mostly on an FIR filed by Hasina’s brother Alam, who was additionally a sufferer of the acid assault, in April 2024 beneath IPC sections 341, 450, 326(a), 504, and 34. Now, Alam has been lacking for 3 months, whereas Hasina’s elder daughter is making an attempt to run the eatery.
The primary listening to within the decrease courtroom’s case was held on August 17 final yr, with the following listening to scheduled for June 19, 2025. The FIR names the 2 neighbours additionally as accused.
There are conflicting accounts of why the assault occurred. Hasina says the motive was a land dispute: “They needed my land. Once I refused, they tried to kill me.”
She says that her son had eloped with a girl from a special group in 2022, and that the neighbours tried to make use of the outrage round this to strain her into leaving her land. She alleges that they roped in Manish to mount additional strain on her.
Story continues beneath this advert
Police mentioned Manish, 28, who’s from Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh and labored at a manufacturing facility, informed them he was romantically concerned with Hasina, turned jealous, and attacked her after suspecting infidelity. He allegedly admitted to stealing acid from the manufacturing facility the place he labored. He additionally sustained burns on his face and palms through the assault and was later arrested.
Hasina denies any relationship and alleges that the manufacturing facility Manish labored in was owned by her neighbour’s brother. She says he harassed her and as soon as took her and her daughters to Panipat beneath false pretences. She additionally questioned how acid was accessible on the manufacturing facility.
She additionally alleged that regardless of the neighbours being named within the FIR, police are solely pursuing Manish.
Vimlesh Tripathi, the Deputy Superintendent of Police and investigating officer, acknowledged the criticism however mentioned their investigations had proven no connection between the neighbours and Manish.
Story continues beneath this advert
Tripathi says Hasina had an affair with Manish and that he acted out of jealousy — a declare Hasina strongly denies. She says she warned the neighbours about Manish’s behaviour only a day earlier than the assault.
When introduced again to RIMS on April 4, Hasina and her daughter have been admitted to normal surgical procedure. “We simply eat, sleep, and wait,” Hasina mentioned. “Why is nobody serving to us? It is a query for all the system.”
RIMS Superintendent Dr Hitendra Birua mentioned Hasina and her daughter had been referred to AIIMS, Delhi, and that the Jharkhand authorities would cowl all therapy prices.
Compensation of Rs 1 lakh was initially given to every member of the family, and Hasina and her daughter later acquired Rs 3 lakh extra every. Officer Tripathi mentioned this aligns with state authorities norms of Rs 2-7 lakh per sufferer based mostly on severity.
Story continues beneath this advert
Nonetheless, the petition filed by attorneys within the Excessive Court docket says that is inadequate and calls for a minimum of Rs 25 lakh per sufferer. “Even going by the IO’s model, they haven’t acquired the total quantity. Even the quantity set by NALSA (Nationwide Authorized Companies Authority) isn’t sufficient,” one of many attorneys mentioned.
photograph: Contained in the household’s outdated home, which was destroyed in a fireplace. Specific