Oli underscores implementation of law on acid attack offence

CPN (UML) Chairperson KP Sharma Oli has emphasized effective implementation of the laws put in place to provide justice to the acid attack survivors.

At a programme organized at the UML central office in Lalitpur on Monday on the occasion of Acid Attack Awareness Day, Chairperson Oli pressed for effective implementation of the harsh law to punish offenders so that acid attack survivors do not have to suffer the burn from the acid and the pain of injustice.

Oli, also former the Prime Minister, shared that he had directed to formulate law against acid attacks during his leadership which, he added, was brought into effect with a great difficulty.

The law has a provision of a jail sentence up to 20 years for the convict of acid attack. The law also regulates the sale and use of acid and has a provision for medical treatment of acid attack survivors if the accused is not verified or a case related to the incident is not filed at the court, at the recommendation of the investigating officer and government attorney concerned with the case.

Oli called for bringing to book the offender in acid or burn cases, arguing that if laws are not executed to penalize the offenders, the offenders could easily escape.

He viewed that the scope of law should be expanded as per the need to curb various anomalies and vices born out of superstition. Furthermore, he opined that acid attack was a horrific form of violence against women and children and thus the government should provide support and care as well as medical treatment to the victims.

According to him, the incidents of acid attacks were occurring in our society also due to dowry system.

Similarly, Rastriya Swatantra Party's parliamentarian Bindabasini Kansakar echoed with Oli and highlighted the need for effective implementation of laws on acid attack.

Likewise, Muskan Khatun, an acid attack survivor, said that awareness drive on acid and acid attacks should be launched in villages as, she added, that many people in rural areas were still unaware about acid.

She argued that acid attack survivors needed a documents that clearly states about their status so that they would avail medicines for their ailment easily.

Jeni Khadka, a victim of burns, said that the pain of burns remain forever in the victims. She urged everyone to help remove that pain. She bemoaned that in lack of a proper identity card that proves she is a burn survivor, it has been increasingly difficult for her to get medicines.

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