Using acid as a weapon to impose harm is known as acid attack. Since the most commonly working agent in acid attacks is Sulphuric acid, the name given is Vitriolage. Acid Attack is an infernal crime in which the committer belongings his cruel motives in the most wicked way. The prepensely careful act of acid attack results in permanent consequences for the victim. All it takes is a bit of acid to transform a body into a distorted heap of bones and flesh overcooked beyond credit. The motivation behind acid attacks is rarely murderous. In maximum cases acid is used unkindly to disfigure and distort the appearance of the victim. Minority of the reported acid attacks are committed against young women of eligible age. The primary reasons are refusal of marriage proposal, refusal to enter into a romantic relationship and withdrawing from an existing relationship. Sometimes disgruntled husbands use it to exact revenge when the wife brings dowry, refuses to have sex or is suspected of having illegal relations. In a culture where a lot of premium is attached to a girl’s physical look, destroying her looks has devastating effects. Prospects of her marriage, employment, relationships, all suffer an irreparable setback. The shame associated with acid attack further slanders her reputation. Acid attacks have been recognized as a specific crime and two sections 326A and 326B were inserted in the IPC by the Criminal Laws Amendment Act in 2013. Moreover clause seven was added to Section 100 IPC which allowed private defence to be exercised in full measure to prevent acid attacks. The primary reason is that acids can be procured easily. Punishment for acid attacks in India are 10 years of imprisonment. The Section 326A in the Indian Penal Code places down the sentence for acid attacks. The minimum punishment is 10 years’ imprisonment. It can spread up to life imprisonment with fine. A separate law to punish criminals in such cases was passed along with alteration of law on sexual offences.
Acids should be ban in India
The trade of acid is not banned, but by the command of Supreme Court in India, only exact shops can sell acid and they require a license to do so. Also they need to ask individuality proof and address proof from the customers who want to buy acid. This was because of the repeated incidents of acid attack on women. The laws for sure too late might also be too little in their present state. But the Supreme Court has approved the order, and nothing has been done on the ground level to curtail the selling of acids. Acids are sold candidly in the market without much of a license and the requirement of any kind of proof. Since acids have a wide range of uses in industries that may be small scale or large scale, acids are in demand in market. So it cannot be barred altogether, but can be regulated. But the command of Supreme Court seems to be an order only on paper since the acidic attacks are still prevalent.
The percentage of cases of acid attacks that the courts disposed, of all the cases that went for experimental, was 6.6 percent (27 cases out of 407) in the year 2016. It is only in 2017 that the proportion went up to 9.9 percent (44 cases out of 442). But, in 2018, it again came down to 6.11 percent cases (32 cases out of 523) sparkly that the system is unable to provide summary justice in the matter.
Movement group Stop Acid Attacks counsel people follow these rules, in the event they are victims of, or witness an acid attack:
- Immediately wash the affected area with fresh water or saltwater solution always make sure this source is pure
- Keep washing the scorched body part with cool water until the pain begins to diminish. This can take around 45 minutes
- Take off any clothes that have made contact with the acid
- As enticing as it is to add cream to give some relief, this could affect the treatment prescribed by doctors
- If possible, loosely wrap the burn area in purified gauze, which helps prevent the wound from contamination
- After hospital treatment, patients are advised to attach to a strict rehabilitation management which includes changing bandages on a regular basis
- In serious cases, doctors may recommend physiotherapy for victims whose nervous system has been affected by the burn
- Others will be offered skin implants to help reduce symptoms and beautifying signs of the attack
- As acid attacks are traumatic, patients may also be counselled to seek counselling.
What should you NOT do in the happening of an acid attack?
Milk could act as a soothing remedy, in the incident of an acid burn, but specialists advise it’s an awful idea. Milk is generally alkaline, though as it goes off it becomes more acidic. When alkaline milk comes into contact with acid it will cause a heat generating reaction, which creates more heat and can do more damage. Milk could increase the risk of infection. Continuously stick to running water and lots of it.