Kathmandu . In order to reduce and discourage the incidents of acid attacks, the victims have requested the government to tighten the sale and distribution of acid.
On the occasion of the ‘Fourth Acid Attack Campaign Day’ today, in a discussion held by the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RASWPA) between the victims and the stakeholders, they mentioned that the easy buying and selling of acid or other deadly chemical substances is worrying.
Muskaan Khatun, who suffered an acid attack at the age of 15 in 2019, said that the attacks could not be stopped due to lack of strictness in the purchase and sale of such substances. He said that this type of incident is happening due to lax implementation of Acid and other Hazardous Chemical Substances (Regulation) Act, 2079 and lack of public awareness.
“Acid should be strictly sold and distributed. Even after I was attacked, there have been more than five incidents”, Khatun said, “There is a lack of public awareness against acid attacks. Against acid attack and its legal provisions should be included in the school curriculum.”
For the past five years, Khatun, who has been continuously spreading public awareness about acid attacks, is facing the same problem as a victim.
Recalling the pain that the victims had to go through to get justice after the acid attack, he said, “There is a situation where the victims have to struggle to get justice. There is a situation where you have to repeat your pain again and again.
The government has arranged for free medical treatment for acid attack victims. Apart from cosmetic treatment, the government will bear all the treatment and medicine expenses related to acid attack for life. According to Khatun, the complicated and slow payment process has added more suffering to the victims.
“There is a situation where you have to go to the hospital many times for drug treatment. Because it takes a lot of time, the treatment is delayed. Now my father is bearing the cost of my treatment”, said Khatun.
RSVP MP Bindabasini Kangsakar emphasized that punishment should be given to the perpetrators. Kangsakar, who has also been a victim of acid attacks, has been raising questions about the effective implementation of the law. He demanded that while minimizing the incidents of natural arson, in cases of criminal arson, the perpetrator should be severely punished and the victim should be given a dignified life.
He has already registered the ‘Human Body Burning Control and Punishment Bill, 2081’ in the House of Representatives. “In the last 11 years, four hundred and forty people have been attacked with acid”, MP Kangsakar said, “Acid does not only disfigure the appearance. It shakes a person’s confidence. Coming out of this is very important with the family.”
MP Kangsakar also stressed on the need to spread public awareness about the precautions to be taken immediately in case of acid attacks and other burns. “The pain of all kinds of burning is equal. But even though there have been so many incidents of acid attacks, there is no public awareness of what to do immediately in such a situation”, he said. Even after reaching the hospital, the acid on the face was not washed off. If it had been washed off at that time, the damage would not have been so much.”
Jenny Khadka, an acid attack victim who participated in the discussion, expressed her views on the impact of the society’s perspective on the rehabilitation of the victims. “External beauty is given importance and the character of the victim is questioned”, Khadka said. The person who attacked me with acid is now living his life freely after serving three years of imprisonment. But I am still talking about the same acid today, giving my own justification.”
On that occasion, Ravi Lamichhane, Chairman of RSVP, said that RSVP is trying to bring justice to the victims and prevent such incidents from happening. “The country will do justice to the victims of jealousy. We are determined to ensure that legally”, former Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Lamichhane said, “we are fighting to get you rights and rights, not sympathy, we are united in this.”
According to the regulation of hall acid and other hazardous chemical substances, a person who wants to produce, export, import or sell and distribute such substances must obtain a government permit. In the Act, it is said that only firms, companies or individuals who use acid substances, laboratories, laboratories, educational institutions, workshops, workshops, making metal jewelry or any other professional work can purchase.
Similarly, there is a provision to purchase only the quantity required for commercial purposes. A fine of up to Rs. 10,000 has been provided if a specified organization or person using acid or other hazardous chemical substances is found not to keep records and details of the quantity of such substances used.
The Act itself has provided for awareness programs. All three levels of the government are required to take precautions and safety precautions when using acid or other dangerous chemical substances, measures to reduce damage in the event of an accident, conduct necessary awareness programs about the damage that can be caused by its use, or conduct or disseminate publicity.
According to the Civil Code Act, 2074, if an acid attack is not carried out or if someone evades or escapes from it, the perpetrator will be imprisoned for five to seven years and fined from one lakh to three lakh rupees. If both eyes, ears, nose and face, a woman’s breast or a person’s genitals are burnt or damaged due to the attack, the perpetrator will be imprisoned for 20 years and fined 10 lakh rupees. Rasas
