32-year-old woman becomes victim of acid attack in Assam; 4th incident in 4 months. Here is what the Home Ministry’s order says

A 32-year-old woman of Dhekiajuli suffered severe burn injuries in her neck and arms after acid was thrown on her by a man said to be known to her. According

A 32-year-old woman of Dhekiajuli suffered severe burn injuries in her neck and arms after acid was thrown on her by a man said to be known to her.

According to inputs, accused Bacchu Kar, a businessman, threw acid on the victim identified as Dibya Kumari Singh when she was about to leave for her duty on Sunday morning. According to eyewitness accounts, Bacchu asked Dibya to stop as he wanted to talk to her. But the minute she stopped, he threw acid on her. The incident took place near the weekly market in the Sapoi Bagan area of Dhekiajuli. It is not yet known if they are in a relationship or what triggered the attack.

Police investigating the case said, “We received information that a person Bacchu Kar of Rakshashmari threw acid on Dibya Kumari Singh. We took the victim to the Community Health Centre (CHC) after which she was referred to a hospital in Mission Chariali and is undergoing treatment there. During probe we found that Bacchu Kar was known to the victim, but it is yet to be ascertained if they are in some kind of relationship.“
The police said that the victim claimed there was an argument between the two, following which the man threw the chemical on her.
This is not the first time that an incident of acid attack has been reported from Assam. The state has reported at four such events in the past 4 months between August and December this year.
Acid attacks in Assam reported in 2021-22:
September 2022- A resident in Goreswar town suffered grievous burn injuries after miscreants threw acid at him. The victim was identified as Manik Debnath, a resident of Bokulguri in Goreswar in Baksa district. Police suspected family feud behind the attack.
September 2022- A woman suffered serious injuries after she was allegedly attacked with acid by her husband at Kharupetia area in Darrang district. According to police, the husband splashed acid on the victim following a heated argument between the duo. Family problem between the couple was suspected to be reason behind the attack.
August 2022 – A youth in Karimganj district, allegedly suffered an acid attack after assaulted brutally in a public area by a gang of miscreants. The victim was left in a critical condition and was admitted to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
December 2021- Two women were injured in an acid attack by a man in Assam‘s Lakhimpur district. The attacker threw acid on his wife, Renena Begum and his sister-in-law. The incident took place at Rangajan near North Lakhimpur
February 2021– A 32-year-old woman was severely injured in an acid attack in Dibrugarh district. The accused, identified as Buddhadev Das was arrested by the police from Shantipara area in Dibrugarh district the very next day. According to a complaint filed by the victim’s family members, the man attacked her for rejecting his marriage proposal.

Following a Supreme Court order, the Home Ministry had issued an order to all state and Union Territories to prevent acid attacks. Some of the main points of the order are:

1. Banning over the counter sale of acid/corrosives unless the seller maintains a logbook/register recording the sale details
2. A sale will be made only when the buyer produces a Govt photo ID
3. The buyer has to be 18 years and above
4. The logbook/register should also specify the reason/purpose for procuring acid
5. All stocks of acid must be declared by the seller with the concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) within 15 days and in case of undeclared stock of acid, it will be open to the concerned SDM to confiscate the stock and suitably impose a fine on such seller up to Rs. 50,000
6. The concerned SDM may impose a fine up to Rs.50,000 on any person who commits breach of any of the above directions.
7. Educational institutions, research laboratories, hospitals, Government Departments and the departments of Public Sector Undertakings, who are required to keep and store acid/corrosive shall maintain a register of usage of acid and the same shall be filed with the concerned SDM.
8. A person shall be made accountable for the possession and safe keeping of acid in their premises.

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