Ratnanagar police have arrested a traffic police officer in Chitwan district for stalking and throwing acid on a married woman he desperately wanted to marry.Sub-Inspector (SI) Ramchandra Khaniya, posted at temporary traffic police post in Ratnanagar, threw acid on Kalpana Shrestha, 28, in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-10 on Sunday.

The incident happened in Trichowk while she returned to her home from work. 

The victim, admitted to Bharatpur Hospital, has burn injuries on her face, chest, hands and legs.

The victim’s husband Kisan Shrestha on Monday filed a case of attempted murder against Khaniya at the District Police Office.

Shrestha is a Nepali Army soldier, posted in Tara Dal Battalion in Bara. He was in his barrack when the acid attack happened on Sunday.

The Shresthas are permanent resident of Gorkha and living in Bharatpur for the last two years. Both know the attacker since the last two years.

The victim works as an enumerator for the ongoing National Economic Census, carried out by the Central Bureau of Statistics.

Shrestha said Khaniya repeatedly harassed his wife since the past few months.

 “I lodged complaint at Area Police Office in Ratnanagar on March 29 as he (Khaniya) started harassing her on various pretexts. The DSP assured to take action if he continued harassing her. Now this incident occurred,” said Shrestha.

The attacker had proposed to marry his wife, he added.

Khaniya’s repeated stalking compelled them to move from their rented apartment to another place to avoid him, but he found their new place, said Shrestha.

 On Monday, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa visited Kalpana in hospital and inquired about her treatment. Doctors informed the minister her health is not critical. The home minister asserted to take strong action against the guilty involved in the incident.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Prabhu Prasad Dhakal said a police team arrested and put the suspect in custody. Preliminary investigation shows Khaniya threw acid on Kalpana because of personal dispute, said police.