Acid Attacks: The New Gender Terrorism.

Mumbai: “With her head bend down , staring at the floor, saliva running down her skin, a woman is unable to lift her head or close her mouth.
Acid has melted her skin, her life ahead. Acid attack or acid throwing is a fast spreading social issue in under – developed as well as developing countries. An estimated of 1,500 people are victim’s of such barbaric attacks. People throwing acids are like wild animal’s who need to be tamed before they go viral, as it happens in most cases. 80% of such attacks happen on women and about 40% of them being below 18 year’s of age. Though  most of these attacks are becoming increasingly banal in countries such India,  Cambodia, Nepal, Vietnam,  Laos, Kenya, Pakistan amoung the many others, Bangladesh  has till date reported the highest number of attacks in the world!
Seldom resulting in death, the horror of such attacks is nevertheless striking. Within seconds, the acid diffuses skin, fat, muscle and remarkably bones. Women may be left blind, not witstanding the fervent physical agony. These types of brutal attacks may occur showing a customary theme, i.e. a women stepping out of her subordinate gender role. Victims are left permanently disfigured, socially isolated and emotionally starred.
The people in general need to voice their opinion in such contentions, since they’re happenning on a global scale now. Maximum imprisonment for attacks has been 14 years. What infact calls for such heinous crimes is “An eye for an eye” punishment viz. Capital punishment. In India, only cases relating to sati, honour killing,  drug trafficking,  terrorist attacks, etc.call for a death penalty. In countries such as Pakistan several drops of acid are dropped in the eyes of the accused, Singapore uses the harshest of harsh punishments, may it ne judicial cases or else. Other countries are using carring, firing squad, amputing, eye gouging,  chemical blinding, stoning and even crusifying as means of punishment.
In India the following is being implemented;
Indian Penal Code was amended on the 2nd of April 2013 with the passing of ‘ The CRIMINAL Law (Amendment) Act. 2013.The amendment resulted in insertion of sections 326A and 326B for specifically dealing with acid violence. The new Sections 326A and 326B read as follows :

326A. Whoever causes permanent or partial damage or deformity to, or burns or maims or disfigures or disables, any part or parts of the body of a person or causes grievous hurt by throwing acid on or by administering acid to that person, or by using any other means with the intention of causing or with the knowledge that he is likely to cause such injury or hurt, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and with fine:

Provided that such fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses of the treatment of the victim:

Provided further that any fine imposed under this section shall be paid to the victim.

326B. Whoever throws or attempts to throw acid on any person or attempts to administer acid to any person, or attempts to use any other means, with the intention of causing permanent or partial damage or deformity or burns or maiming or disfigurement or disability or grievous hurt to that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than five years but which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine

Compensation for acid attack
Section 357B has been newly inserted in Cr PC which reads as :

“The compensation payable by the State Government under section 357A shall be in addition to the payment of fine to the victim under section 326A or section 376D of the Indian Penal Code.”

Free Medical Treatment

357C has been newly inserted whereby all hospitals,public or private are required to provide first aid or medical treatment free of cost. The section reads as:

“All hospitals, public or private, whether run by the Central Government, the State Government, local bodies or any other person, shall immediately, provide the first-aid or medical treatment, free of cost, to the victims of any offence covered under section 326A, 376, 376A, 376B, 376C, 376D or section 376E of the Indian Penal Code and shall immediately inform the police of such incident.”

So raise your voices and make it worthy, acid burns her life too! ”

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