The Puducherry Government should provide protection for the family of acid attack victim Vinodhini, especially since the accused in the murder has been released on bail, All Indian Democratic Woman’s Association (Aidwa) Tamil Nadu General Secretary P. Suganthi said on Sunday.
The girl’s parents felt they were under threat after the accused was released on bail. Although they have not yet filed a formal complaint with the police, they have approached several organisations to take up their case ever since Vinodhini succumbed to her injuries on February 12 this year, Ms. Suganthi told reporters here. “The police have been acting favourably towards the accused and the family had received phone calls from the family members of the accused, which makes them feel even more threatened,” she claimed demanding the cancellation of bail to the accused. Speaking of the new judgment by the Supreme Court regarding the purchase of acid, she said that despite the SC judgement there was an acid attack in Tirunelveli three days ago. According to law, the acid attack victim should receive money from the attacker for treatment purposes, but this was not acceptable. The government should give the money for treatment to the victim, and later collect it from the attacker, she said.
There has been an increase in crimes against women, and yet the Puducherry government has not taken steps to appoint a chairman for the Women’s Commission, nor have they implemented the Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at the Workplace Act or the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, she said.
