On 6th March, Srinagar court sentenced Sajid Altaf Sheikh to life imprisonment for an acid attack on a woman, stemming from a rejected marriage proposal in 2022.
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SRINAGAR: On Wednesday(6th March),a Srinagar court has delivered a stern message against acid attacks, sentencing a man to life imprisonment for a heinous assault on a 26-year-old woman. The case, stemming from a rejected marriage proposal in 2022, has highlighted the severe consequences of such violent acts.
Principal Sessions Judge Jawad Ahmed handed down the life sentence to Sajid Altaf Sheikh under Section 326A of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to acid attacks. The court also imposed a hefty fine of Rs.40 lakh on the convict, emphasizing the gravity of the crime.
Section 326A of the Indian Penal Code–
If someone intentionally causes severe harm to another person by throwing acid or using any means to inflict injury, they will be imprisoned for at least ten years, potentially for life, and fined. The fine must be reasonable to cover the victim’s medical expenses and is to be paid to the victim.
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“Having regard to the nature of the attack, the permanent disfiguration caused to the victim by the use of corrosive substance by the convict and the impact of the disfiguration on the future life of the victim both physical and emotional, I find that the convict does not deserve leniency and no other punishment except the maximum punishment of life imprisonment prescribed under law for his act can do the real and complete justice to the victim,”
–Judge Ahmed stated, underscoring the irreversible harm inflicted on the victim.
The court’s decision reflects a deep understanding of the trauma and lifelong suffering faced by acid attack survivors. The judgment noted-
“No one can imagine the plight of the poor parents of the victim, every day they have to look at the mangled face of their daughter. They have also to live their life with this emotional trauma.”
The court highlighted the imbalance between the convict’s potential for rehabilitation and the victim’s enduring pain.
“When the loss and trauma suffered by the victim is compared with the mitigating circumstances and the ‘chance’ of rehabilitation of the convict, the tangible loss and life-long emotional trauma suffered by the victim by the horrible act committed by the convict far out-weighs any hypothetical chance of rehabilitation of the convict,”
-the judgment read.
The backstory of this tragic event began when the engagement between Sheikh and the victim was called off. Following the breakup, Sheikh threatened and ultimately attacked the woman with sulfuric acid, leading to her undergoing 23 reconstructive surgeries and incurring medical expenses of approximately Rs.48 lakh.
The court meticulously reviewed the case, considering the premeditated nature of the attack and the testimonies, including that of the survivor. She bravely recounted her ordeal and the ongoing challenges she faces, urging for a sentence that reflects the severity of the crime and serves as a deterrent to others.
Supporting the survivor’s plea, the court dismissed arguments for leniency based on the convict’s age and first-offender status.
“It has been argued by the counsel for the convict that the convict is young, a first offender so a lenient view may be taken while awarding sentence to him so that he is reformed and is brought back to the society. If this argument is accepted then what would happen to the victim,”
-the court questioned, prioritizing the victim’s suffering and right to justice.
In addition to the life sentence and fine, the court recommended further compensation for the survivor under the Jammu and Kashmir Victim Compensation Scheme, 2019. This is in addition to the interim compensation already received from various legal and civil authorities.
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[READ THE ORDER]
