A paediatrician in Vizag was allegedly attacked with acid late on Tuesday night, when he was going back home from Seven Hills Hospital, where he works.
Balaji Bushan Patnaik, the 35-year-old doctor, was allegedly attacked with acid near Pandimetta Power Station by two unidentified persons.
Patnaik, who hails from Cuttack, was taken to the Seven Hills hospital by locals, where he is presently undergoing treatment.
The doctor’s elder brother Mihir Patnaik who has come from Mumbai told Deccan Chronicle, "They came up to his door and knocked on the window. When my brother rolled down the window, one of them threw acid on his face and fled the spot. As he screamed, local people rushed him to LV Prasad Eye Hospital and later brought him to intensive care unit of Seven Hills Hospital.”
He also denied knowledge of his brother having enmity with anyone.
Police suspect that the attackers might have followed Patnaik for some time before attacking him.
When TNM contacted Dr Fakeerappa, DCP, he said "As of now he is out of danger, We have spoken to him and will take his full statement later as part of our investigation."
He added “Initially, we thought the attackers were more than two in number, but now we have confirmed that they were two members."
When asked if they have found any clues, he said, ”The CCTV footage from the hospital where he was working and the crime scene are being examined. The facts are yet to be ascertained completely."
He also told TNM that the case is being investigated from all possible angles and the culprits will be nabbed soon.
Special teams have been formed to speed up the investigation.