The DN Nagar police, on Sunday, arrested a 22-year-old unemployed man for allegedly attacking a 17-year-old girl with a blade after she confronted him for staring at her at Andheri (West) on Saturday.

The police said the girl and Varish Qureshi are residents of Junaid Nagar in Andheri (West). While the girl is a student and also works at an imitation jewellery-making factory in Andheri (East), Qureshi works at a vegetable stall in the vicinity.

Police said the incident occurred around 8.30pm on Saturday when the girl visited a public telephone booth to make a call. The girl told police that Qureshi, who was standing nearby, was staring at her.

When she confronted him, Qureshi shouted obscenities at her. The girl shouted back. Qureshi, the police said, is suspected to have been intoxicated at the time of the incident.

"He grabbed a blade from a barber stationed behind the phone booth and slashed the girl's face. He then tried to flee when locals caught him. He, however, escaped," said G Devde, inspector, DN Nagar police station.

The girl was admitted to Cooper Hospital as she had received a deep cut across her cheek and lip. She was discharged after medical aid was administered to her and will have to undergo surgery, police said.

"Qureshi was arrested from Dharavi on Sunday afternoon and has been charged with criminal intimidation and for voluntarily causing grievous hurt by a dangerous weapon," Devde said.

The girl, in her complaint, said Quershi had harassed her on several occasions.