Acid Attack Survivors: The Untold Stories

Acid Attack Survivors Speak Out

Attacked by Father

Julie’s life changed forever at the tender age of four when her own father’s cruel act left her scarred in more ways than one. "I was attacked in 2014. I was just 4 years old," she recalls. The attack was a tragic outcome of a family conflict. Julie’s parents were estranged, and her mother had remarried. "My father got jealous and came to throw acid on her, but accidentally it fell on me," she shares.

Despite her resilience, Julie’s journey has been anything but easy. Her education suffered, her classmates ostracised her, and neighbours’ cruel remarks added to her trauma. "When I came back from the hospital, everyone was looking at me with disgust. They said things like, ‘She should have been given poison; she should die,’” she reveals.

Attacked by a 55-year-old Man

At just 15 years old, Anshu Rajput became the victim of an acid attack that would forever alter her life. "A 55-year-old man carried out the attack when I was 15," she recounts. The man, who was her neighbour, had been following her for some time before confronting her. "He stopped my bicycle one day and said, ‘I am in love with you and want to have a relationship with you.’ I was shocked—he was old enough to be my grandfather," Anshu says.

Anshu’s fight did not end with the attack. It extended into the courtroom, where justice proved elusive. "My case went on for seven years. In 2020, the accused was given life imprisonment, but in 2022, he was released on bail because he was a senior citizen," she says, her voice tinged with bitterness.

For Anshu, the law’s failure is a second betrayal. "I don’t understand this. He ruined my life when I was just starting

Acid Attack Survivors Speak Out

Attacked by Father

Julie’s life changed forever at the tender age of four when her own father’s cruel act left her scarred in more ways than one. "I was attacked in 2014. I was just 4 years old," she recalls. The attack was a tragic outcome of a family conflict. Julie’s parents were estranged, and her mother had remarried. "My father got jealous and came to throw acid on her, but accidentally it fell on me," she shares.

Despite her resilience, Julie’s journey has been anything but easy. Her education suffered, her classmates ostracised her, and neighbours’ cruel remarks added to her trauma. "When I came back from the hospital, everyone was looking at me with disgust. They said things like, ‘She should have been given poison; she should die,’” she reveals.

Attacked by a 55-year-old Man

At just 15 years old, Anshu Rajput became the victim of an acid attack that would forever alter her life. "A 55-year-old man carried out the attack when I was 15," she recounts. The man, who was her neighbour, had been following her for some time before confronting her. "He stopped my bicycle one day and said, ‘I am in love with you and want to have a relationship with you.’ I was shocked—he was old enough to be my grandfather," Anshu says.

Anshu’s fight did not end with the attack. It extended into the courtroom, where justice proved elusive. "My case went on for seven years. In 2020, the accused was given life imprisonment, but in 2022, he was released on bail because he was a senior citizen," she says, her voice tinged with bitterness.

For Anshu, the law’s failure is a second betrayal. "I don’t understand this. He ruined my life when I was just starting to live, yet he got to walk free. My family and I continue to suffer while he lives a normal life again," she laments.

Rajnita’s ordeal is yet another grim reminder of how the system fails survivors. In December 2013, she became an unintended target of an acid attack during a feud between her family and a neighbour’s family. "They were going to throw acid on my family, but it accidentally fell on me as I was standing in the front," she explains.

The man responsible initially received a 14 to 15-year sentence but was later released on appeal. "It’s heartbreaking to think that the person who did this to me is free. They deserve punishment, but instead, we are the ones who continue to suffer," she says, echoing the sentiment of countless survivors.

A System That Fails Its Victims

At the Brave Souls Foundation, Rahat Jahan recounted the attack that changed her life forever. In 2007, a man, enraged by her family’s refusal to agree to his marriage proposal, threw acid on her. The horrific attack left her with lifelong scars, both physical and emotional.

While Rahat continues to grapple with the aftermath of the attack, the perpetrator served only eight years in jail before being released. "What can we do?" she said. "We don’t have any power. The law doesn’t do anything about such crimes these days. Every day, similar incidents happen, and they are not declining."

Rahat believes that justice is far from being served. "I think he should suffer the way we are suffering so that he understands the magnitude of the pain caused by acid attacks," she said.

Compensation: A Long and Winding Road

For survivors like Rahat, the trauma doesn’t end with the attack—it is compounded by the struggle for compensation. After running from pillar to post for four years, Rahat finally received ₹7 lakh through the State Human Rights Commission in Patna.

"I had to struggle a lot to get the fund," she said. Despite the compensation, the financial toll of her treatment remains overwhelming. Over 16 years, Rahat has undergone seven to eight surgeries, including procedures at AIIMS Delhi. "It’s hard to say how much it has cost; whatever my parents had, they spent. After that, I had no money and was sitting idle until Shaheen ma’am helped me get treatment."

Her ordeal is ongoing. "There’s no one at my home to support me. If the government provided a job or rehabilitation, it would make a huge difference. I could stand on my own feet," Rahat added.

Rajnita, another acid attack survivor, echoed similar sentiments. She received ₹5 lakh in compensation but had to pay ₹50,000 to a lawyer to secure it. "We started applying in early 2015 and got the amount a year and a half later in March 2016," she shared. "The process was exhausting, involving constant trips to the advocate, Allahabad, and meetings with officials."

Kajal, attacked at the age of 16, received just ₹2 lakh. "It’s nowhere near enough," she said. The expenses for surgeries, medicines, and basic living costs in Delhi far exceeded the amount. 

Seema, who received ₹3 lakh after multiple attempts, described how even her family’s support waned over time. "Families often say, ‘You are fine now, but we are ruined because of you,’" she revealed. The compensation doesn’t even cover consultation fees at hospitals. "If the government truly wants to help, they need to ensure proper treatment and make survivors self-sufficient."

Acid Attack Survivors: A Struggle Beyond the Scars

In India, acid attack survivors are entitled to free medical treatment in both public and private hospitals. However, these provisions often exist only on paper, leaving survivors to navigate an uphill battle for justice and care.

Shaheen Malik, Founder and Trustee of the Brave Souls Foundation, highlighted the grim reality acid attack survivors face in accessing free treatment. "It was after the acid attack on me when I realised that something could actually be so painful and so traumatic," Malik shared. She explained the financial burden survivors endure. "We don’t go through one surgery but multiple reconstructive surgeries, each costing lakhs. I myself went through 25 surgeries. Survivors often need ₹30 lakh for treatment, but the government provides only ₹3–7 lakh in ‘compensation.’ This is not balanced."

Malik also addressed the broader implications of such attacks. "The face is the main target in an acid attack, often damaging the eyes and leaving survivors with disfigurement. Beyond the physical pain, there’s a loss of identity, social stigma, and loss of career opportunities. Society doesn’t accept us, and employers refuse to hire us," she said.

Hospitals Denying Treatment

Survivors’ struggles extend to hospitals, where the promise of free treatment often falls short. Malik recounted a case involving Apollo Hospital. "Despite Supreme Court guidelines, they were not convinced and didn’t allow me to get free treatment for the victim. We had to take the case to the high court, which ruled in our favour. Yet, after providing treatment for a few days, they refused to continue. Recently, the victim even fainted there," Malik revealed.

The Failure to Control Acid Sales

The persistence of acid attacks is exacerbated by the government’s inability to enforce restrictions on acid sales. Malik pointed to the Supreme Court's 2013 guidelines in the Laxmi vs Union of India case, which mandate stringent regulations on acid sales.

"Acid should not be sold openly, yet it is still available on the counter. This is a failure of implementation," she said. Malik believes the state should bear full responsibility for treatment and rehabilitation. "The government needs to provide compensation, cover treatment costs, and create permanent job opportunities for survivors," she asserted.

The Social Isolation Survivors Face

The physical scars from acid attacks are devastating, but for many survivors, the emotional wounds inflicted by social rejection are even harder to endure.

Rajnita, an acid attack survivor, shared her struggles with societal perception. "My family supports me, especially my father, who tells me I’m no different than before. But at social functions, I feel uncomfortable because people stare at me. For two to three years after the attack, everyone kept asking, ‘What will happen to her now?’" she said.

Malik recounted instances of blatant discrimination. "Survivors traveling in the metro have been asked to cover their faces because people felt uncomfortable looking at them. If society doesn’t want to see us, how can we expect them to rent us houses or offer us jobs?" she questioned.

Survivors Face Indifference in Accessing Disability Certificates

Acid attack survivors in India are entitled to disability benefits, including the issuance of a disability certificate. However, for survivors like Rajnita, securing this document has been a battle against systemic apathy. When she approached a government office to apply, she was turned away with cruel remarks. Officials reportedly told her, "When both your eyes go blind, we will make your certificate."

Rajnita shared her ordeal, stating that she had to visit the office more than a dozen times before the certificate was finally issued. “They kept refusing, saying disability certificates are only for those without a leg, a hand, or who are paralysed. I explained that my eyes were affected, but they wouldn’t listen,” she said.

The situation changed only after Rajnita sought the help of the media. “I gathered reporters and others to draw attention to my case. Only then did they agree to make the certificate,” she explained. 

Alok Dixit, the founder of the Chhanv Foundation, sheds light on the challenges these survivors endure, particularly in their interactions with the judicial system and society at large. Since the opening of Sheroes Hangout, a café that serves as a safe space for acid attack survivors, a transformative opportunity has emerged for many to meet survivors and understand their plight.

"After the opening of Sheroes, for the first time, many people got an opportunity to meet the survivors. I am telling you, even many judges admitted that they were meeting a survivor for the first time. Despite training programs with judges, bureaucrats, and police, many from the system had not interacted with survivors before," Dixit stated. 

Julie: From Victim to Model, Defying the Odds

Julie, the acid attack survivor who was just four years old when her own father attacked her, could have easily been defined by the pain of her stolen childhood. But instead, Julie chose to reclaim her future. Today, she stands as a symbol of strength and defiance. She has found a passion for modeling, proving that no matter the scars, they do not define her.

Julie’s inspiring story was highlighted when she walked the ramp alongside Miss Universe Great Britain 2024, Christina Chalk. "I did a ramp walk with Great Britain's Miss Universe. My experience was very good. It felt amazing to walk alongside her," Julie shared. "Christina Chalk told me, 'Do the ramp walk nicely. I will train you. May you move ahead in life.' I felt so good to receive this kind of support. It made me really happy."

Julie, now a powerful voice for other survivors, has a heartwarming message for anyone facing similar challenges. Julie expressed, "I would like to give this message to the girls: You have only lost your face, not your identity. You still have your identity, so be brave and look forward to your future." 

With special inputs from Suhani Prakash