Bhubaneswar: The film Chhapaak is seemingly more about how in 2005, a 15-year old Delhi girl Laxmi Agarwal was attacked with acid by a 32-year old youth Nadeem Khan only to avenge for being rejected in his love request, and less about the lead actor Deepika Padukone, often embroiled in controversies.
And it was Laxmi's PIL in Supreme Court in 2006 that led to passing of the landmark judgement by country's Apex court in 2013 that directed Union govt and all States/UTs to regulate sale of acids, and provide a uniform compensation of Rs 3 lakh to an acid-attack victim.
Such Tezaab stories are not alien to Odisha. In acid assaults, the State figures among the top ranks in the country.
Sample a few:
Nov 27, 2019: Police detained a girl for allegedly throwing acid on a youth (Alekh Barik) in Cuttack. Reports claim a link between the tezaab episode and a one of unrequited love. Some reports also claimed that the girl was in a relationship with the victim and this may have links with dumping off her.
Jan 1, 2019: A girl (Debanti) was on her way to attend a computer class at Kalampur (in Kalahandi district), when she was attacked with acid by one Majhi. The reason: Police reports again claim a case of unrequited love and revenge.
These are only a few instances of 2019. As per an NGO, Acid Survivors and Women Welfare Foundation (ASWWF), the State has reported a total of 70 cases of acid attacks between year 2011 and 2019.
The moot point here is how despite framing of stricter rules by Odisha to regulate sales in year 2014, post an order by SC to regulate sale of acids in country, acid attacks in the State are on the rise.
Take a glance at the horrific statistics. As per the NCRB 2018 report released recently, Odisha is 3rd in country in number of acid attacks and victims.
Look at the growing Tezaab incidences in Odisha. The number of acid attacks in Odisha in year 2013 were mere 2. The number gets bigger in 2014, which recorded 10 such cases. Except in 2015, when State recorded only 5 acid attack cases, the counts rose to 12 in 2016 and 13 each in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
The data, therefore, shows incidences of acid attacks in Odisha have risen even after notifying the strict circular (given below) by Odisha Police.
A look at aforesaid rule shows that the authority to implement has been vested with the IICs (Inspector in-charge) or OICs (Officer In-charge). Reports suggest lax implementation was for reasons of omission and commission that are primarily responsible for rising acid assaults in State.
It is seemingly not any hunch. Because, none other than CM Naveen Patnaik himself has decided to usher in accountability among cops in State, and put the State police under 'Mo Sarkar', whose objective was to curb rampant corruption and highhandedness.