In a big solace to two acid attack victims from Kotli area of Mandi district the Criminal Injury Compensation Board (CICB) Mandi has awarded them a compensation of Rs 25 lakhs after about 14 years of the incident when the victims were seriously injured in an acid attack by a tailoring worker in a moving bus, along with nine other passengers.
On May 27th, 2005 Mohmmad Magroob had poured a bottle of acid on Mamta studying in local government college at that time after she had reportedly turned down his proposal to marry him. The victim had followed the girl and attacked her in the bus which had left her seriously injured with 60 percent acid burn injuries and permanent loss of sight.
The other girl Jyoti, who was a minor at that time, had also received 40 percent injuries and both the victims were badly disfigured and permanently impaired for life after the incident.
This incident had stirred up great public ire in Mandi town and the Central forces had to be summoned to control law and order situation. The accused, who was arrested on the spot, had escaped from the police custody at Chamakari Bridge while coming from Shimla after a court hearing on August 1, 2005 but was nabbed by the police on December 20, 2005.
Though the accused had been convicted for the whole life and is still serving the sentence in Kanda open jail Shimla but the victims could not get any financial compensation as there was no such provision at that time.
It was a few years back when such matters were broached upon by the Supreme Court of India and directed to constitute CICB in every district to consider compensation for acid attack victims and subsequently a victim from Shimla was given compensation.
Telling about the sequence of the case and the award the Secretary of Legal Service Authority cum CJM Mandi Aslam Beg said, “Taking a sue motu in this case we studied facts and after gathering all information took up this matter in the Mandi district CICB after which the presiding officer RK Sharma gave an award of Rs 13 lakhs to Mamta and Rs 12 lakhs to Jyoti, since latter was a minor at the time of the incident she was given an additional award. The money to victims would be paid by the state government.”
“It is a matter of great satisfaction for all CICB members comprising District and Session judge RK Sharma, DC Rugved Thakur, SP Gurdev Sharma and CMO Dr Jiva Nand Chauhan as they felt though money could no way compensate for the damage done to victims but the award could provide some solace to the acid attack victims and their families,” said Beg.