The brutal acid attack on a 25-year-old woman in Uttar Pradesh’s Mau district, just weeks before her wedding, has once again spotlighted the grim reality of violence against women in India. The victim suffered 60% burns after being targetted by a man who was reportedly angered by her upcoming marriage to another person.
The horrific incident unfolded while she was returning home after withdrawing Rs 20,000 from a bank, part of the ongoing wedding preparations she was managing alone. Her father had passed away and her younger brother was unable to assist. Around 3 PM, two men on a bike intercepted her. One of them, later identified as Ram Janam Singh Patel, doused her with acid, allegedly shouting, “If I can’t have you, no one will.”
Patel, who had previously been in a relationship with the victim, confessed during police interrogation that his goal was to disfigure her not kill so the wedding would be called off and he could still marry her. Reema sustained deep burns on her face, shoulder, neck, and upper torso and was rushed first to the local community health centre before being transferred to Global Hospital in Azamgarh for advanced care.
Police Arrests Three People Related to the Case
The police have since arrested Patel and two accomplices. The motorbike used in the crime was also recovered. Authorities are continuing investigations as public outrage grows over the recurring pattern of such gender-based crimes in the state.
This is not an isolated event. Just last month in Shahjahanpur, another district in Uttar Pradesh, a man allegedly attacked his wife and two daughters with acid over suspicions of infidelity. These cases add to a growing body of evidence that acid attacks remain a common form of control and retaliation particularly against women despite legal restrictions and social condemnation.
Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) paints a bleak picture. Between 2017 and 2021, India officially recorded 1,362 acid attack cases, with 176 reported in 2021 alone and another 73 classified as “attempted attacks.” West Bengal reported the most that year, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. However, human rights organisations warn that these figures may underrepresent the actual scale, as nearly 60% of cases are believed to go unreported annually.
What are the Consequences of Acid Attacks?
The consequences of an acid attack are devastating. Victims often face permanent disfigurement, blindness, and intense psychological trauma. According to global data, 80% of acid attack survivors are women, and in 76% of cases, the assailant is someone known to them frequently as a spurned partner, jealous acquaintance, or relative.
Yogita Bhayana, an activist and founder of the organisation PARI, emphasised the psychological impact: “The physical damage is immediate, but the mental trauma can last a lifetime. Survivors suffer from PTSD, identity loss, and deep emotional scars that society often overlooks.”
Despite numerous legal reforms to regulate the sale of acid and secure compensation for victims, enforcement remains inconsistent. A social experiment by actress Deepika Padukone’s team during the release of her film Chhapaak based on the life of an acid attack survivor revealed how easily acid could still be purchased without regulation. In Mumbai alone, 24 bottles were obtained within days.
What NCRB Data Says About the Cases?
The path to justice for survivors is often long and draining. NCRB data from 2021 indicates that 773 acid attack cases were pending trial, up from 662 in 2020. Only 2.46% (19 cases) were resolved in court that year. This stands in stark contrast to the severity and urgency these crimes demand. Delays in the judicial process frequently prolong the suffering of survivors and slow down the healing process.
Activists are now urging for tighter implementation of acid sale laws, stronger support systems for survivors, and quicker legal resolutions. For victims like Reema, the journey ahead involves physical recovery but also emotional healing, public reintegration, and the pursuit of justice in a system that too often fails to act swiftly.
