11 injured in Hong Kong acid attack

Hong Kong, Sep.1 (ANI): Eleven people were injured when a man threw acid during an altercation Sunday in a bustling market district, the fourth such attack in Hong Kong this year.

Local television reports said victims had to be carried on gurneys to ambulances, their heads covered in bandages.

Nine suffered burns and were treated at the scene. Two others remain in hospital.

Hong Kong police said that they have arrested a 28-year-old man in connection with the attack. He is yet to be charged, said Odelia Tam, a Hong Kong police spokeswoman.

Police said there is no evidence that the attack was linked to the previous ones. (ANI)

Murder charges on accused for acid attack on Lankan students in Oz

Melbourne, July 1 (ANI): Attempted murder charges have been laid against a man accused of an acid attack on two Sri Lankan students during a home invasion in Western Sydney.

Detectives arrested Amalathepan Srikantharajah, 25, of Girraween, about 10am (AEST) on Wednesday and charged him with attempted murder over the May 17 attack in western Sydney’s Westmead.

The attack followed a series of racially motivated incidents between Tamil and Sinhalese Sri Lankans following the violent end to that nations 37-year civil war.

The two victims Chathurika Weerasinghe, 27, and housemate Jayasri Watawala, 22, were attacked in their home by a group of men with one also suffering a stab wound to the stomach and a broken ankle.

Strike Force Doorwood Commander Albert Joseph, who is coordinating the investigation, said police were still looking for other offenders.

“Extensive investigations have been conducted by the Strike Force Doorwood investigation team and as a result a male person has been charged with attempted murder, break and enter with intent to commit murder, and use a corrosive substance to maim another person,” the Daily Telegraph quoted him, as saying.

The man arrested today already faces a charge of failing to disclose the identification of a passenger in his vehicle following the incident and two other men have previously been charged with concealing a serious offence.

Detective Inspector Joseph said the two victims had been informed of the latest arrest. He said both men were continuing to recover well from their horrific injuries. (ANI)

Police up cash reward to catch Hong Kong acid attacker

Hong Kong – Police in Hong Kong Thursday offered an increased reward of 39,000 US dollars in the hunt for an acid attacker who threw bottles of corrosive liquid from high-rise buildings on to shoppers.

The reward was increased after an investigation failed to find the culprit responsible for throwing two acid-filled bottles on to a busy shopping street in the city’s Mongkok area earlier this month, injuring 30 people.

The incident followed a similar unsolved acid attack which injured 46 people in the same part of Mongkok in December. Two bottles of acid were also thrown in that incident.

A reward of around 13,000 US dollars was offered after the first attack but no one was arrested. It was raised to 30,000 US dollars after the second attack in an effort to catch the culprit or culprits, who police fear may strike again.

Most people in the densely populated city of 7 million live in tower blocks and throwing objects of any kind from high buildings is a criminal offence.(dpa)

Cong candidate from Rapthadu assembly seat (AP) arrested

Bangalore, Apr 19 (PTI) Congress candidate from Rapthadu assembly seat of Andhra Pradesh was arrested by Bangalore police today in connection with an attempt to murder case registered against him 12 years ago. T Prakash Reddy, who was arrested from his constituency in Ananthpur district, was one of the accused in the acid attack on one Krishnamurthy here in 1997, in which the latter lost an eye and suffered burns on the head, police said.

The attempt to murder case was registered against Reddy with Peenya police station here. He was granted bail in 2004.

With Election Commission cracking the whip on candidates against whom non-bailable warrant had been issued, police here acted swiftly and took him into custody from Rapthadu, which goes to polls on April 23. A court here sent him to judicial custody for a day while his bail application will be put up before the court tomorrow.

PTI.