Law enforcement authorities in Balod, Chhattisgarh have cracked the disturbing acid attack case involving a 22-year-old college student, detaining both the primary conspirator and his associate. The victim, who is the daughter of a police officer, was targeted in a calculated assault that took place on Monday. Preliminary interrogation revealed that the violent act was far from an impulsive outburst, uncovering instead a sinister plot that had been quietly developing over a three-month span. The apprehended suspects have been identified as 20-year-old Yash Kumar Sonkar from Newarikala and his close friend Karan Kunjam, a resident of Bhairamgarh situated in Bijapur district.
Rejection and Unfounded Suspicion Led to Malicious Plot
During custodial interrogation, officials discovered that the victim and Yash Kumar Sonkar had maintained regular communication over an extended period. In recent weeks, however, Yash began harboring suspicions that the young woman was romantically involved with someone else. Driven by jealousy, he pressured her into entering wedlock, but she firmly declined his proposal. Enraged by the refusal and consumed by his suspicions, Yash resolved to permanently disfigure her face. To execute this vindictive objective, he contacted Karan Kunjam in Bijapur and requested him to travel to Balod, setting in motion a detailed conspiracy roughly three months prior to the incident.
Chemical Purchased in Durg After Aborted Attempt at Procession
The operational phase of the scheme began when Karan arrived in Balod on September 26 to join Yash. On the very next day, the duo traveled to neighboring Durg to procure the corrosive acid used in the assault. Their initial plan was to stage the attack amidst the dense crowds during the Ganesh immersion carnival in Balod on September 29, believing the chaos would provide ideal cover. That attempt was thwarted when the heavy presence of police patrolling and tight security measures intimidated them into backing out. The pair subsequently bided their time until an opportunity presented itself on October 5, when they ambushed the 22-year-old student, leaving her with severe burn injuries.
Diversion Tactics Fail as Suspects Are Remanded to Custody
Following the crime, specialized police teams were immediately dispatched to track down the culprits. Scrutiny of local leads and call trails linked to Karan eventually directed suspicion toward Yash Sonkar. Initially taken in for questioning, Yash attempted to derail the investigation by portraying himself as a harmless confidant of the victim while falsely accusing three innocent acquaintances to misdirect detectives. That deception crumbled under systematic questioning, prompting him to admit to the entire plot orchestrated alongside Karan. Both accused individuals were produced before a local court on Tuesday, which remanded them to judicial custody.
