Acid Attack: A Stigma on Kashmiriyat

The state of Jammu and Kashmir is a land of unity in diversity where people from many religious, social and cultural backgrounds harmoniously live together irrespective of caste, sex, colour, creed etc. the unity of diversity in Kashmir valley particular where due respect and honour has been always given to our women and has never been exposed to any threat of violence. This capability of Kashmiri people to live in peace and harmony with each other is ‘kashmiriyat” that has won the hearts and minds of innumerable people all over the world. However, for the past many years, the violence against the women in the Kashmir valley have been soaring due to various reasons that has affected our kashmiriyat tag very much and a negative and wrong notion about Kashmiri people is being developed among the minds of outsiders due to rising women violence incidents like the recent Hawal acid attack on the young innocent girl. Such incidents like the acid attack only adds a dark black stain to the tag of Kashmiriyat culture. The International Day for the Elimination of violence against Women is observed every year on 25th November. This day is celebrated to raise awareness among the people about problems of women violence and its eradication from society by adopting various constructive and effective measures. Celebrating and observing women’s day every year by organising seminars, debates ,discussions, campaigns etc. is a futile exercise unless and until women are not given due respect, honour and rights practically by all men. The crimes against women common in Jammu and Kashmir are dowry death, acid attack, marital rape, sexual harassment, physical and mental harm, coercion, arbitrary deprivation of liberty, intimidation at work place, trafficking, forced prostitution, molestation, kidnapping and abduction of women. The heinous acid attack crime by the criminals on the 24 year old innocent girl at rejection of marriage proposal has sent shock waves among the residents of Kashmir valley. Nobody was expecting and believing the gruesome acid attack incident on the young innocent girl that caused her complete damage to the face, loss of eyesight and disfigurement of the body, mainly the face. How acid attack criminals dared to throw acid on the innocent victim girl’s face who has many dreams and goals of her life. The criminals have snatched the dreams and goals of the budding and growing girl suddenly and instantly. How much pain the poor victim’s family members are feeling right now who have brought up and educated their young girl very affectionately. The victim’s family members are in deep trauma and pain. Giving compensation, media bites for showing sympathy, visiting the hospital and the victim’s house to console the victim and her family members respectively will not decrease their pain. What will bring the respite and decrease a small del of pain to the affected is only bringing criminals of the victim girl to justice by giving exemplary punishments of death sentence on fast track basis in a fast track court. Otherwise, all measures like imprisonment of criminals for ten years or life imprisonment will add more pain to the affected families. Simple punishment of imprisonment to criminals for heinous crimes will increase crime and violence in Kashmir valley. It will also encourage criminals and violators of laws and will dismay common people of the valley as well.
The acid attack committed by criminals is a gender based heinous crime against the girl. Gender based heinous crimes are now common in Kashmir valley due to unbridled criminals and majority of the criminals committing heinous crimes against women have been addicted to drugs and alcohol. The Kashmir valley that was once called the paradise on the earth and the land of saints and sages has now become the land of hell due to the safe haven of these criminals and drug peddlers and have made the lives of common people particularly women very difficult. They are roaming and enjoying addiction and crimes against women without fear of laws of the land. There hardly ever passes a day in Kashmir valley, when a woman has not been victimised by a criminal. Women are part of our societies contributing equally to all sectors due to multiple talents and qualities but violence against them is deep rooted and has spread its long wings against the helpless and poor women and accordingly made their lives miserable in tall claiming modern societies of Kashmir valley. It is very unfortunate that the helpless women of Kashmir valley who have been fighting for their rights like reservation in jobs, state legislature, educational institutions etc. now have shifted their mind to fight for a basic right to live simple lives instead of seeking and demanding legal, political, economic rights etc. The marginalized and oppressed women call the present age in Kashmir valley worse than the age in the Arab countries when a girl child was buried alive. To douse the flames of rising violence against women in the Kashmir valley, several measures are required on war footing basis so that crimes against women are curbed and women can live peaceful lives with the men in a very respectful manner as they deserve in all societies. The measures are: strict implementation of existing laws against women violence like the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961, Domestic violence act 2005, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006,The Protection of children from Sexual Offences (POCSO ACT), Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 etc., enactment of stringent laws by the government will ensure the strict and deterrent punishments to the criminals, establishment of fast track courts so that victims get justice on fast-track basis, religious education among the youth by religious leaders, NGO,s, civil society, religious scholars, in particular and societies in general must get united against the violence and crimes against the women. Any delay or negligence on part of the law implementing agencies in particular may prove very disastrous for the lives of all women in Kashmir valley. Let us wake up from deep slumber and join hands together to fight collectively with the support and cooperation of the government, particularly law enforcing agencies against the heinous crimes so that women get a sigh of relief ahead.
(The author is a Teacher at Boys Higher Secondary School Beerwah. Views are his own)
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