AS COPS REFUSE TO ACT - Acid attacks on the rise

Udumula Sudhakar Reddy
12th dec 2008
If the police had taken some action, this incident would not have happened.
Police inaction is emboldening many stalkers to harass girls who have spurned their amorous advances. The latest instance was the acid attack on two girls in Warangal on Wednesday, one of whom, K. Swapnika, was injured critically.
“She received 75 per cent burn injuries and cornea of her eyes was damaged,” said her anguished father, Mr K. Devender Rao. “We had complained several times to the Subedari police about his harassment. If they had taken some action, this would not have happened.” Initially cops arrested Srinivas, the person who attacked Swapnika, but he soon came out on bail and threatened the family saying that “police and courts can do nothing.” Such brazen attitudes are fed by police indifference. Obsessed stalkers had earlier killed MCA student, R. Srilakshmi in Vijayawada, and hacked N. Prasanna Lakshmi in Guntur.
In the city too, stalkers had attacked one Fathima of Rajendranagar with acid. In Palasa of Srikakulam, a lecturer threw acid on a girl student as she refused to accept his proposal.
Swapnika’s family had feared the worst and had tried their best to evade the stalker. But it was no use.
In most cases, acid attacks permanently disfigure, debilitate and destroy the victim, both physically and psychologically. Survivors continue to battle medical complications as the acid seeps into the body and harms internal organs.
The National Women’s Commission says that most victims know the violator, who often escapes the law and is rarely brought to book. Srilakshmi, who was killed by a stalker, Manohar, in Vijayawada had lodged a complaint against him with the Commissioner of Police as well as the principal of her college. But nothing was done to stop him.
The Women Protection Cell in Crime Investigation Department and Women Police Stations are also no refuge for those tormented by stalkers. They only take up dowry harassment and domestic violence cases. The city task force was supposed to keep tabs on eve teasers but their focus changed post terror attacks.
“The stalking phenomenon is not prevalent in AP alone,” said S. Umapathi, IG of the CID Women Protection Cell. “Today’s generation can’t wait. They want quick results. They are influenced by violent films.” He admitted that lack of stringent punishment of stalkers was prompting many youth to harass girls. “I have asked all the police officers to open rowdy sheets against persistent stalkers and eve teasers,” said the Hyderabad Commissioner of Police, B. Prasada Rao.
He, however, added that cops could not always be on the lookout. “Police deals with hundreds of cases,” he said. “There are robberies and murders which are more dangerous crimes.” The Prevention of offences (by Acids) Act 2008 is still waiting for approval of authorities. It will add a new section to the IPC where the perpetrators of acid attacks will be given punishment of up to 10 years in prison.
Legal experts say that there are enough provisions in the law right now to curb the menace, if the police has the will. “It is a serious crime and an equivalent to an attempt to kill,” said the eminent lawyer, Madabushi Sridhar.