A man allegedly attacked his wife with a screwdriver and threw acid at her when she was feeding their five-year-old son at a kindergarten school on Thursday morning.

“The man attacked his wife in front of other guardians and children,” said an officer of Kasba police station, where a case has been started based on the 24-year-old woman’s complaint.

“He first hit her on her head with a screwdriver. When she tried to resist, he splashed acid on her neck.”

Police sources said after a preliminary investigation that the attack was the outcome of a family dispute.

Other guardians at the spot rushed to the woman’s rescue and caught the man.

The woman was taken to MR Bangur Hospital, from where she was discharged after treatment.

“The husband has been arrested and charged under IPC sections 326A (voluntarily causing hurt with acid) and 326 (voluntarily causing hurt with dangerous weapons),” an officer said. Section 326A carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in jail.

“The woman shouted in pain as soon as acid was thrown at her. Young children who saw the attack started screaming in panic,” said one of the guardians who was at school.

Investigators said a bottle with the label of “Muriatic Acid” pasted on it and a screwdriver were seized from the accused.

A resident of the locality said schools were the most safe place and an attack like this came as a shock.