By Nayak Paudel
Kathmandu, July 27: On Thursday evening, 22-year-old Pabitra Karki was attacked with acid. She was rushed to hospital while police intensified the search for the perpetrators.
With the help of CCTV footage, police tracked two individuals involved in the crime and arrested 47-year-old Mohammad Alam, a garment businessman in Dallu, and 23-year-old Faiyaz Alam, an Indian national working at Alam’s garment business, the same night.
In the statement, Faiyaz, who had hurled acid over Pabitra, confessed that he was given a bottle and ordered by Mohammad to throw what’s inside over the victim. As per Faiyaz, he was unaware that it was acid.
Mohammad planned the attack since Pabitra ignored and snubbed him since she worked at his garment business.
During the investigation, Mohammad has revealed that he gave Faiyaz the acid which was used to clean toilet in the garment factory rather than buying it outside, which however has not been confirmed yet.
Meanwhile, earlier cases of acid attacks have been clearly showing the utmost need of regulating acid sales since the perpetrators have bought acid from normal shops easily.
Bishnu Bhujel had bought acid from a jewellery shop in Banepa before he doused it over his 20-year-old wife Jenny Khadka on May 15, 2019 at Kalopul.
Similarly, the four individuals who hurled acid on Sangita Magar and Sima Basnet while the duo were returning from a tuition centre in Basantapur in February 2015, were found to have brought the acid from a hardware shop.
With every case of acid attack, the delay of the government in formulating a regulation to control the sale and distribution of acid come in light because it is easily available and can be brought by anyone with vicious intension.
As the activists wait for the regulation, three years have nearly passed since the Supreme Court ordered the government of Nepal to formulate a regulation for sale and distribution of acid on August 9, 2017 over a petition filed by activists and acid attack survivors.
“While the government itself should have formulated a regulation by knowing its utmost need, the delay despite a Supreme Court order does not reveal that the government is concerned in controlling such attacks,” Sashi Basnet, an advocate and a petitioner demanding regulation of acid sale at the Apex Court, told TRN daily.
According to Basnet, they are unaware of a single step taken by the government in implementing the order.
Regarding the government authorities, they are in uncertainty of who should formulate the regulation. The uncertainty seems to be only the latest development in formulating the regulation.
“It is a priority to formulate a regulation for the sale and distribution of acid. But there has been uncertainty of which ministry should lead it,” said Kedar Nath Sharma, spokesperson at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Similarly, officials at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs are also unknown if any development has been made in formulating the regulation.
“I am unknown of any steps taken in formulating the regulation for sale and distribution of acid. Since it needs to get utmost priority, the ministry will consult with other ministries regarding the issue,” said Lila Devi Gadtaula, spokesperson at the ministry of law.
The government officials mentioned the dilemma over which ministry should formulate the regulation since various ministries are connected to it.
While the home ministry relates with it because acid is being used for criminal activity, the ministry of industry relates with it because acid is imported for various purposes with its involvement.
As per activists, such dilemma does not show lack of coordination between the ministries but a lack of concern towards safety of individuals.
“Acid can be used to attack anyone irrespective of gender. Regulating acid sale and distribution will be an effective step in controlling and minimizing such crimes,” said Basnet, who also added that the government must also increase the punishment.
The criminal code mentions a jail sentence for up to eight years and a maximum fine of Rs 500,000 if the victim’s face is disfigured due to acid or any chemical attack. Similarly, if the victim sustains injuries on other body parts, the perpetrator faces three years in jail and a fine of Rs 300,000.
“Regulating the sale of acid would help keeping the record of ones who bought it. It helps a lot in investigation and also helps in reducing the cases of acid attacks as acid would not be available easily,” said Superintendent of Police Ishwar Karki, spokesperson at the Metropolitan Crime Division.