AGRA: Aligarh police arrested a man accused in an acid attack case late on Friday, 21 years after he allegedly committed the crime. Arif (48), who was absconding ever since an FIR was registered in January this year, was sent to jail after being presented before the court on Saturday. Now 35, Rukaiya Khatoon was just 14 when Arif, her sisters brother-in-law, allegedly hurled acid on her face at her home in Aligarh in 2002, leaving indelible burn marks on her face and other parts of her body.Rukaiya recently told the police that she had spurned Arifs advances. However, no one from her approached the police at that time.Talking to TOI, Rukaiya said, I lost my father at an early age and my mother was under pressure to make ends meet. Moreover, my attacker was a member of my extended family. I too couldnt gather courage to approach the police. . The crime came to the notice of a senior police officer only by chance. In December 2022, ADG (Agra zone) Rajeev Krishna visited Sheroes Hangout café in Agra, where Rukaiya works with other acid attack survivors. She narrated her ordeal to the officer, who assured her all possible support. In January 2023, on Krishnas intervention, Etamaddaula police station in Agra district registered an FIR under IPC Section 326A (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid). The case was later transferred to Roravar police station in Aligarh district. Rukaiya sustained severe burns in the attack and had to undergo long treatment. She also suffered mental trauma for years – she is still on medication for various health complications. However, she couldnt avail the benefit of government schemes for acid attack survivors as she had not filed an FIR . For two decades, I have been yearning to see the man who destroyed my life face retribution and the ADG and police commissioner gave me the confidence to file an FIR, Rukaiya, who now has a 10-year old son, said, adding, Arif had been threatening my family ever since the FIR was registered. It is satisfying to finally see him end up in jail. I urge the women who suffer any crime against them to contact the police. With my experience, I can assure that the police will surely help. Agra police commissioner Dr Preetinder Singh, who pursued the matter and ensured the arrest of the accused, said, We address cases related to crime against children and women on a priority basis. Rukaiya showed exemplary courage to take up the matter and seek justice after so many years. We will help her get assistance under government schemes for acid attack survivors. Ashish Shukla , director of Chhanv Foundation, a non-profit organisation that backs the Sheroes initiative said, Apart from the monetary assistance provided by the state, the Supreme Court has said that all survivors of acid attacks must receive up to Rs 3 lakhs as compensation, payable by the perpetrator. Survivors are also entitled to free medical treatment in both private and state-owned medical institutions. There is also 1% percent reservation in government jobs for them.Until 2013, there were no specific laws to deal with acid attacks in the Indian Penal Code. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, added Section 326A and Section 326B to the IPC, thus creating special provisions for the survivors. Under these sections, perpetrators of acid attacks are punishable with a minimum imprisonment of 10 years, extendable to life, along with a fine. The punishment for attempting to throw acid on a person is punishable with five to seven years under Section 326B, irrespective of the nature of the injuries sustained by the survivor.

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