Sushma Swaraj meets Russian acid attack victim's mother

Moscow, Apr 18: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today met mother of a 23-year-old Russian woman who was attacked with acid in Varanasi in November last year and assured her of severe punishment to the guilty.

Swaraj told Antonina Prokina, the mother of the victim, that trial in the case has begun and that she was in touch with Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav in connection with the case so that the man behind the attack does not escape strong punishment.

The 23-year-old Russian national had suffered 46 per cent burn injuries after a local youth threw acid on her on November 13 in Nand Nagar area of Varanasi.

"He (the accused) had applied for bail but a court has rejected it. The trial in the case has already begun. I am in touch with Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and told him that he must get harshest of the punishment," Swaraj told Antonina.

The mother of the girl met Swaraj - who arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit - at the hotel where the Minister is staying. Antonina, accompanied by her elder daughter Yana, explained to Swaraj the trauma the family was undergoing following the incident.

The family stays at the Moscow region. Earlier, in her meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Swaraj expressed sadness and regret over the acid attack on the girl and apprised him about the investigation into the case.

The victim was first shifted to a Delhi hospital after initial treatment in Varanasi. On November 16, she came to Moscow.

The Indian Embassy here has been helping the family in treatment of the girl.

The accused, identified as Siddharth Srivastava, had fled to Allahabad after the incident and was arrested later.

Swaraj had sought a report from the Uttar Pradesh government following the attack on the girl and promised all possible help to her and the family.

PTI