Tourist attack leaves hotel staffer with permanent eye damage

A hotel staffer has been left with permanent eye damage after an acid attack by a tourist in a guest house in Thamel on Thursday.

The attacker, who has been identified as Sales Ali from US, all of sudden came into the Annapurna Guest House, Thamel, and threw the acid on the face of Prakash Bhujel, 40, from Panauti, Kavre, who worked as an airport representative for the guest house. Seriously injured Bhujel was taken to Manmohan Hospital for treatment. He was then referred TUTH hospital, according to Dr Radheshyam Gupta of Manamohan Hospital.

According to hospital sources, the victim has permanently lost his vision in his right eye. Quoting doctors involved in Bhujel´s treatment, Manhit Thapa, owner of the guest house, said the victim has very less chances of recovering vision in left eye as well.

“The doctors are doing their best. But the chances of Bhujel recovering his eyesight are very slim,” said Thapa.

Inspector Kabit Katuwal said, “The attacker was arrested immediately with support from the locals of Nursing Chowk, Thamel.” Ali has confessed to his crime but has claimed he was attacked first. “However, we did not find any injury to Ali´s body.”

According to the guest house owner Thapa, Ali had stayed in the guest house for two weeks and was forced out after he was found smoking marijuana. He had checked out of the guest house on February 16, he said.

Police said that Ali was staying in Nepal on a two-month long tourist visa. After checking out from the Annapurna Guest House he had moved to Encounter Hotel and then to Red Rock Hotel.

Another staffer at the guest house said they had seen Ali but that they did not expect him to attack Bhujel.

Preliminary investigation show Ali has been staying alone. “We are investigating the incident,” said inspector Katuwal.

source: republica,4 April 2013