Justice hopes ebb for acid attack survivor

GUWAHATI: As a special women's court in Mumbai on Thursday sentenced a man to death for murdering a young nurse in 2013 by hurling acid at her and Reshma Qureshi, a 19-year-old acid attack survivor walked the runway at New York Fashion Week on the same day, young Nishamoni Borah didn't know how to react.
The 28-year-old lawyer, who lost vision in her right eye in an acid attack in March this year, has stopped moving out of her residence in Silpukhuri.She fears that her attacker who is also a lawyer and currently out on bail would find a way to hurt her again.
Reacting to the Mumbai court's verdict which awarded death penalty in an acid attack case for the first time, Nishamoni sought deterrent action to prevent more women from being hurt. "Investigations in such cases should be done in a speedy manner so that survivors can get justice on time. Deterrent action is a must," she said.
Nishamoni, who hails from Lakhimpur and was living in Silpukhuri here, was attacked by Diwakar Baishya Sahu while she was returning from her chamber in Bharalumukh on the evening of March 19. The corrosive liquid scalded her eyes, face and neck and damaged her cornea severely. She said Sahu, a former colleague, attacked her because she had rejected his advances.
Acting on her complaint, police arrested Sahu and booked him under the non-bailable Section 326A of the Indian Penal Code. However, police failed to submit a chargesheet within 90 days and Sahu was granted bail.
If convicted, Sahu can be sentenced to a minimum of 10 years' rigorous imprisonment, which may be extended to life, and be asked to pay a fine to the victim. However, Nishamoni is losing hope rapidly.
"Police told me they were unable to complete the chargesheet in the case due to a delay in the forensic report. I approached Assam Police chief Mukesh Sahay for security but no action was taken," she told TOI.
The state government has given her Rs 2 lakh but that is far short of the amount she will need for her cornea transplant in December.