Acid attack survivors who survived through the toughest times India news acid attack news

Acid attack survivors who survived through the toughest times

A special Mumbai court on Thursday sentenced a 25-year-old man to death for murdering Preeti Rathi by hurling acid at her, the first time capital punishment has been awarded for a case involving acid attack.Delhi resident Ankur Panwar  was convicted for murder of Preeti Rathi. Sadly she didn’t survive but there are other girls who lived through the toughest times to tell their tales of courage.

Acid attack survivors who survived through the toughest times

Here are some of them:

Laxmi Agarwal-

Commonly known as Laxmi Saa, is an Indian campaigner with Stop Acid Attacks in India. Laxmi is an acid attack survivor herself and speaks for the rights of acid attack victims. She was attacked at 15, in 2005 by a 32-year-old man for rejecting the proposal. To curb acid sales, Laxmi even called for a petition through gathering 27,000 signatures and took the cause to Supreme Court.

Acid attack survivors who survived through the toughest times

It was her petition that led the Supreme Court to order the central and state governments to regulate the sale of acid, and the Parliament to make prosecutions of acid attacks easier to pursue. She is the director of Chhanv Foundation, a NGO dedicated to help the survivors of acid attacks in India. Laxmi received  2014 International Women of Courage award by US First Lady Michelle Obama. She was also chosen as the NDTV Indian of the Year.

Acid attack survivors who survived through the toughest times

Sonali Mukherjee:

Sonali Mukherjee, a woman from Dhanbad, India her face was permanently disfigured by an acid attack in 2003 when she was 18. Her family has spent all their savings on her treatment. In 2003, almost one and half months prior to the incident, three alleged assailants – Tapas Mitra, and his two friends Sanjay Paswan and Bhrahmadev Hajra – told her that she was a Ghamandi (arrogant) person and they would teach her a lesson.

Acid attack survivors who survived through the toughest times

Rita Paul :

Rita Paul, 24 married for 2 years detected her mother in-law having illicit relations with another man. She was blamed for casting aspersions on family honour. Rita was forced to swallow a litre of acid (september 2000) to disable her from revealing family misdeeds.

Acid attack survivors who survived through the toughest times

Anu Mukherjee-

Anu was forced to become a bar dancer to support her and her brother's living. Her fame and popularity triggered jealousy and insecurity amongst colleagues; one of whom conspired to ruin her life and career. On 19th December 2004 while she was travelling to work by an auto rickshaw acid was thrown at her face.