Acid Attack – A scar for life
Friday, 9 August 2013
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Crimes against women are
gradually becoming an integral part of the Indian society. The entire journey
from the womb to the tomb is adorned with treachery and obstacles for a girl
child. At every stage of life, she is vulnerable to attacks and exploitation
and therefore, her interests remain imperilled. Ironically, the increasingly
modern society is leading to commodification of the fair-sex and turning women
into mere objects of lust. Declining moral values, little fear of law and an
unrestricted access to liquor and filthy content on the Internet have been
provoking perverted minds to attack the dignity of women to satiate their
carnal appetite. What is alarming is the fact that low rate of conviction
accompanied by a shoddy investigation process do not deter the perverts to
commit crime in the society and consequently, they live with impunity.
India is among a handful of
countries that witness the maximum number of acid attacks on women. With acids
being available in the market, for purposes ranging from painting, use in car
batteries, in de-weeding and as floor cleaning substances, they easily fall in
the hands of those who want to wreak vengeance. In most cases, the male
perpetrators who disfigure women by flinging the corrosive chemical over them
are estranged lovers who seek to establish their masculinity once their offers
are turned down.
Acid attacks permanently
disfigure and eventually destroy the victim both physically and
psychologically. Not only does the acid cause burning sensation, it melts away
the victim’s skin and flesh and even go as far as dissolving her bones. The
victim dies a hundred deaths and is left scarred for life. Such traumatic
incidents not only lead to physical agony but they shatter the victim
emotionally and leave indelible impressions in her mind. No medical care,
however specialised and expensive, can cure a cure a victim off her sufferings
and restore her former self.
The need of the hour is to
strengthen the existing laws to protect women and implement them in the
strictest possible manner. Section 326A of the Indian Penal Code prescribes a
minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment for deadly acid attacks
that leave the victim grievously injured and causing severe permanent or
partial damage and disability. Section 326B makes plans and attempts to fling
acid on another a punishable offence with a jail term between 5 and 7 years
with a fine, the amount of which goes to the victim.
In most cases, an acid attack
victim needs a short- and long-term medical care in the form of specialised
plastic surgery. The government should take necessary remedial steps to provide
monetary relief and rehabilitation to acid attack victims. The guilty should be
severely punished and socially ostracised. The media should play an important
role in educating young males on how to counter adverse mood swings and accept
rejection of proposal without nurturing bitterness and feelings of vengeance.
Sale of acid must be regulated to prevent easy access to this lethal liquid. It
should be sold only through licensed shops only after complete verification of
the customer.
The true test of masculinity does
not lie in harassing or disfiguring the female counterpart. Instead one should
respect the sentiments of the person belonging to the opposite sex and should
not impose one’s will on an unwilling person.
Categories:
acid attacks,
common man,
crime,
dream,
emotions,
India,
support,
violence
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