Acid Attacks - A Burning Vile That Has to End

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Introduction:

Acid Attack is a very famous term spread all over the world. It is prevailing in most parts of the world and mostly in India. It is also known as Vitriol Attack, and Acid Throwing. It is a form of violent assault which can affect an individual’s face or any other body part and someone’s life.

It involves the act of throwing acid onto the body of another person to disfigure, torture, or kill. Those who try to attempt any harmful activity are called “Perpetrators”. Perpetrators of these kinds of attacks throw a corrosive liquid at their Victims, generally at their faces, burning them, and many more.

Acid attacks are increasing with every passing day mostly in developing countries like India. From 1999 to 2013, a total of 3,512 Bangladeshi citizens were attacked with Acid. But it is good to know that after 2002 every year there is a decline in the rate of cases by 15-20%.

In India, it is increasing rapidly every year from 250 to 300 but according to the Acid Survivors’ Trust International, it could exceed one thousand. Why it is increasing? What gives motivation to perpetrators to do so? Why it is not stopping? Let’s know about it.

Types of Acids:

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1. Sulfuric Acid

2. Nitric Acid

3. Hydrochloric Acid

4. Aqueous Solutions

The Motivation for Attackers:

• Personal conflicts

• Sexually related jealousy

• Revenge for refusal

• Religious, Social, Political motivation

• Gender Inequality

• More preference to Women’s in the society

• Property Issues

• Bad Influence

• Land disputes

Countries Associated with the Acid Attack:

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1. Afghanistan

2. Australia

3. Bangladesh

4. Belgium

5. Bulgaria

6. France

7. Germany

8. India

9. Italy

10. Nepal

Consequences:

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They face many health, medical, psychological, and social effects.

1. Health:

It may include Blindness as well as eye burns, with the permanent scar of the face. It tends to disfigure for lifelong. Victims of the attack faced many physical and psychological challenges, which require long-term surgical treatment and in-depth intervention from psychologists and counselors at each stage of physical recovery.

2. Medical:

The medical effects of acid attacks are dangerous. Most acid attacks are aimed at the face, which can destroy the ears, nose, and lips completely. The seriousness of the damage lies on the concentration of the acid or chemical and the time before the chemical is neutralized with a neutralizing substance or completely washed off with water

The acid affects rapidly:

• It can eat away skin or the layered fat inside the skin and in the worst-case scenario even the underlying bone.

• Hair lost or the skull is partly destroyed.

• Ears cartilage is partly or destroyed completely, sometimes it can cause deafness.

• Eyes may be deformed and prone to blindness.

• The nose can become narrow and deformed, due to breakage or damage of cartilage the nostrils may close off totally.

• Due to damage of mouth, it may lose its full range of mouth and becomes shrunken which can severely affect the eating, speaking, and movement of lips too.

• Inhalation of acid vapors can create problems in respiratory parts and can block airway pathways.

3. Psychological:

It can cause depression, anxiety, mental health issues in the life of the victims because they start questioning themselves on their appearances which results in more and more stress. Especially, female victims face problems like low self-esteem and a rise in self-consciousness.

4. Social:

The victims of acid attacks face difficulties in interacting with other people. They start avoiding meeting new people, attending parties, cutting themselves from social media, feel dependent on their families or spouse. In short, they avoid social gatherings and start living in their own space.

Victims:

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1. Laxmi Agarwal

2. Preeti Rathi

3. Lalita Ben

4. Kavita Baruni

5. Sonali

6. Pramodini

7. Aarti Thakur

8. Anupama

These are the few names of the acid attack survivors and they are now living their life happily. They inspire all the victims of the other attacks that nothing can stop you if you don’t want to stop. If you are determined to do something no matter how many obstacles will come between you and your success, you will overcome them.

Punishment:

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Under section, 326A punishment for attempting an acid attack is 5-7 years only irrespective of the harm caused to the victim. The victim is only liable for compensation, up to Rs. 3 lakhs.

However in my opinion this punishment is not adequate, the perpetrators should be hanged and they should also face the same trauma (mentally and physically). In most parts of the world, still, the selling of acid is going on for free. It should be banned completely or sell it on high prices.

Victims should not be treated badly and ample opportunities should be provided to the survivors. The law can be changed successfully only if it is well implemented.

Written By - Priyanka Jain

Edited By - Daniel Deepak Charles