Punjab State Legal Services Authority, Site No.126, Opposite GMADA Community Centre, Sector 69, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab, 160068, India.
Forensic Medicine & Toxicology & Faculty In-charge, Forensic Anthropology & Forensic Radiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, #315, New Forensic Wing( Opposite Mortuary), New Delhi, 110029, India.
Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2020 Sep;16(3):481-488. doi: 10.1007/s12024-020-00230-7. Epub 2020 Apr 17.
Vitriolage (acid attack) involves an intentional act of violence in which any corrosive is thrown onto the face and body of a person with the intention of disfiguring them. The most common type of corrosive used in these attacks is sulfuric acid (oil of vitriol) hence the name "vitriolage". Sulfuric acid is a strong acid/corrosive and has a toxic nature that is capable of causing bodily injuries leading to damage to mucous membranes, tissues and skin with blindness, burning, and scars often leading to significant disfigurement with temporary or permanent disability. The main reasons for acid attacks are marriage refusal, rejection of love proposals, dowry issues and male aggression. Acid attacks have horrendous physical, social, psychological and economic effects on victims. This review will delineate the various legal provisions relating to acid attacks with special reference to the recent Indian Criminal Law Amendment Act of 2013 which addressed the issue of these attacks specifically by making it a separate offence in the Indian Penal Code under sections 326 A and B. The Bangladesh Acid Offences Prevention Act 2002 and Acid Crime Control Act, 2002, and legislation and policies combating acid attacks in Cambodia, Nepal and Pakistan will also be mentioned. Additionally, the paper will discuss the role of the judiciary in South Asia by focusing on other landmark judgments and decisions and throw light on the campaign in India namely "Stop Sale Acid" aimed at stopping the unrestricted sale of acid. Finally, further suggestions are proposed to assist in combating this heinous crime.
泼酸（酸袭击）涉及一种蓄意的暴力行为，其中任何腐蚀性物质都被扔到人的面部和身体上，目的是毁容。在这些袭击中最常见的腐蚀性物质是硫酸（硫酸），因此得名“泼酸”。硫酸是一种强酸/腐蚀性物质，具有毒性，能够造成身体伤害，导致黏膜、组织和皮肤受损，导致失明、灼伤和疤痕，往往导致严重毁容和暂时或永久性残疾。酸袭击的主要原因是拒绝婚姻、拒绝求爱、嫁妆问题和男性侵犯。酸袭击对受害者造成了可怕的身体、社会、心理和经济影响。本综述将阐述与酸袭击有关的各种法律规定，特别提及 2013 年印度刑法修正案，该修正案特别将其作为印度刑法典第 326A 和 326B 条下的单独罪行。还将提到孟加拉国 2002 年《酸犯罪预防法》和 2002 年《酸犯罪控制法》、柬埔寨、尼泊尔和巴基斯坦打击酸袭击的立法和政策。此外，本文还将讨论南亚司法机构的作用，重点介绍其他具有里程碑意义的判决和决定，并介绍印度的“停止销售酸”运动，旨在阻止不受限制地销售酸。最后，提出了进一步的建议，以协助打击这种令人发指的罪行。
