Acid attack on minor girl triggers protests; Oppn. targets Mahayuti govt. in Assembly

Acid attack on a minor girl sparks protests and Assembly outrage, with demands for swift justice and government accountability.

A day after a 13-year-old schoolgirl in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar district came under acid attack, locals took out protests and the Opposition hit out at the State government over the incident on Wednesday.

The girl was attacked on Tuesday afternoon while returning home from school at Vadgaonpan village in Sangamner taluka. She is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Loni, the police said.

Locals held a ‘rasta roko (road blockade)’ demanding swift action against the accused. Members of the community to which the survivor belonged also took out a ‘mukha morcha (silent rally)’ to the police station in Sangamner city.

They submitted a memorandum to the police and the District Collector demanding action. It included demands such as action under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 326(A) (minimum sentence of 10 years to life imprisonment) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a trial in a ‘fast track’ court, appointment of a Special Public Prosecutor, financial aid under the Manodhairya Yojana, and inspection of vendors selling acid.

“We are exploring all angles and trying to identify the accused. As per the girl’s statement, the person was unknown to her,” Somnath Gharge, Superintendent of Police of Ahilyanagar, told The Hindu.

The Ahilyanagar police registered an FIR under Sections 124 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid) and 126 (wrongful restraint) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. With the crime taking place in a secluded spot with limited access to CCTV cameras, the police have deployed 10 teams to crack the case.