A man was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly attacking a 13-year-old girl with a sword in Lakhimpur Kheri and inflicting grievous injuries on her head and hands, the police said.
The incident occurred on the busy Mela Road, under the Kotwali police station, in the afternoon. Those present on the road chased the accused and managed to overpower him.
Subsequently, the accused, identified as Rohit Chaurasiya, 26, was handed over to the police. The injured girl was rushed to the district hospital, from where she was referred to the state capital of Lucknow.
The cause of the attack is considered to be a one sided love affair. The accused was working at a hotel near the house of the girl and had been stalking the girl since last few days.
However, the superintendent of Police (SP) S Channappa, who visited the girl, told reporters that a dispute over a mobile phone charger was said to be the reason behind the attack.
"The police are looking into all the aspects of the case. The accused has been arrested. Charges under the National Security Act (NSA) would be slapped on him," he said.
Eyewitnesses also said the girl had borrowed the mobile phone charger of the brother of the accused, who got enraged when she refused to return it and launched the attack on her, PTI reported.
District Magistrate Akashdeep also paid a visit to the girl. In view of the poor financial condition of the girl's family, he promised all assistance to them and arranged for an ambulance to take the victim to Lucknow.
(#TalkingStalking: Have you ever been stalked? Share your experience with The Quint and inspire others to shatter the silence surrounding stalking. Send your stories to editor@thequint.com or WhatsApp @ +919999008335.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)