India: Russian woman severely injured in acid attack

A Russian woman was rushed to hospital after sustaining severe burns and injuries to her face and torso following an acid attack in the northern Indian city of Varanasi, Friday. The attack happened in the early hours of the morning when Daria Yurieva Prokina told authorities she was doused in acid as she slept on the balcony of her third-floor room. Prokina had been staying as a guest at a hostel in the city for three days before the attack occurred. On a previous visit to the city she had stayed at the same hostel for three months. Initial suspicion has turned to the son of the hostel owners Siddharth Srivastava. Authorities allege the young Indian man had become infatuated with Prokina, who did not return his affections. He is suspected of conspiring to carry out the attack after Prokina announced her imminent return to Russia. She is currently undergoing treatment at Sir Sunderlal hospital.