Three new friends, canteen time, a lecture: Fresh start for acid attack survivor on her first day at a DU college

NEW DELHI: She was greeted by her two cats, and her excited parents when she reached home on Monday. The 17-year-old was back after attending her first day in college, and her family couldn't wait to hear all about her day.

- Ashna Butani

As the family sat in the living room of their Dwarka flat, the BA (Economics) student told her parents about the three new friends she made, about the massive canteen in her college, and all about her first lecture.

This could be a scene from the house of any teenager's first day at college. But for this 17-yearold, Monday was extra speciala stalker attacked her with acid in December 2022, and for several months, she and her family were not sure whether she could even make it to college. Now, she is the first in her immediate family to go to college.

On December 14, the 17-year-old, then in Class 12, was on her way to school with her younger sister, when two bike-borne men threw an acid-like substance at her near the Dwarka Metro station in south-west Delhi, an attack that was caught on CCTV.

Three men were arrested in connection with the case, that sparked outrage in the city.

As a result of the attack, the girl suffered 8% burns and underwent treatment at Safdarjung hospital.

HT is not revealing her name or the name of her college to protect the girl's identity at the family's request.