Yet Another Woman Battles for Life After Acid Attack in Karnataka

Horrible fate in the form of an acid attack struck another victim on Friday. Anjamma Digamber, a 38 year old woman working in the government higher primary school at Rekulgi,

Vituperative attacks on women in Karnataka have been occurring with uncanny regularity. According to official figures, more than 60 women in Karnataka, in the last eight years, have been the unwitting recipients of burning malice from their spouses or lovers and have lost their face, limbs and sometimes even their life to acid attacks.

In August 2007, we had carried a report of another victim, Hina Fatima, a 22-year-old housewife from Mysore who was allegedly forced by her husband to consume a drink mixed with sulphuric acid.

Horrible fate in the form of an acid attack struck another victim on Friday. Anjamma Digamber, a 38 year old woman working in the government higher primary school at Rekulgi, in Bidar district of Karnataka was attacked by her husband, Digamber, who poured acid over her head and face. Anjamma was admitted to the government hospital in Bidar with severe burn injuries.

The patient was in deep shock after injuries inflicted on her face and body. Specialists attending on Anjamma confirmed that the victims face and back have taken the worst beating following the attack.

According to onlookers account, Digamber attacked Anjamma in front of the school gate on Friday morning. Following this incident, the school teachers caught Digamber who was also beaten up by the villagers and handed over to the police. Apparently, the accused was carrying about 2 liters of acid on his person.

The victim had separated from Digamber about two years ago following marital discord and stayed in her maternal home. On the day of the incident, the accused had allegedly stalked her while traveling to reach her place of work.

As she was entering the school, the accused is said to have poured acid over her head. Even the colleagues who rushed to her rescue sustained injuries, and one among them sustained severe burns on his left hand.

The colleagues of the victim recalled an incident of an argument between the victim and the accused, a few days before the attack. Digamber was an alcoholic and is stated to have tortured Anjamma, forcing her to separate from him.

Statistics reveal that majority of acid attacks are targeted on women between the ages of 16- 25. Most of the women were attacked in public places or in the confines of their homes.

Source-Medindia
SAV/P