Srinagar, Aug 22: The survivor of the 2014 acid attack on Monday said “justice has been delivered” as the Principal District and Sessions Court in Srinagar convicted both accused persons and sentenced them to life imprisonment. She has also sought a blanket ban on the sale of sulphuric acid in markets.
Notably, on December 11, 2014, a young law student suffered severe injuries in an acid attack near Nowshera, on the outskirts of the city, while she was en route to her college. Speaking to reporters, the acid attack survivor expressed her happiness at finally achieving justice after a 9-year legal battle. She believes “this verdict sends a strong message to those contemplating such heinous crimes, potentially saving many girls.” She maintained that her faith in justice was upheld throughout, with the support of the police, administration, friends, and family after the acid attack.
The acid survivor also extended her gratitude to the media for highlighting her case. When asked about the compensation, she noted that while the Rs 5 lakh compensation isn’t enough, she is content with the decision she had been awaiting for nine years.
While with reporters, she urged the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, to implement a blanket ban on sulphuric acid, which is readily available in the market. Reflecting on her ordeal, she mentioned that had acid not been easily accessible, the incident might not have occurred, and a blanket ban could potentially save many lives in the future. She emphasised the need for society to refrain from making uninformed judgments about individuals and events. She stressed the importance of considering the facts before reaching conclusions.
On last Thursday, the court held the accused duo Irshad Ahmad Wani alias Sunny Wazirbagh Srinagar and Muhammad Umar Noor of Bemina Srinagar guilty of the offence under RPC’s Sections of 326-A (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid), 201 (destroying evidence) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy). “I find that the prosecution has been able to establish the charges against the accused persons beyond any reasonable shadow of doubt. As such, this charge-sheet is accepted and the accused persons namely Irshad Amin Wani and Mohammed Umer Noor (Accused No.2), are held guilty for the offences punishable under Sections 326-A, 201 &120- B RPC,” the court said in the verdict. It’s noteworthy that six days after the Principal District and Sessions Court held two individuals guilty in the acid attack case on a 20-year-old law student in Nowshera on December 11, 2014, the court sentenced them to life imprisonment.
The court stated that there was no material from the defence to suggest any reason for falsely implicating the accused. The court believed the established facts, circumstances, and evidence pointed conclusively to the accused’s guilt.
