14 years of imprisonment for acid attackers in Odisha

Victim demands more stringent punishment as her future has been mutilated

Thirteen years after, a former army jawan, who threw acid on a girl after she turned down his proposal of marriage, was convicted for 14 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) by a local court in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district on Monday.

Santosh Kumar Vedanta, was convicted for pouring acid on one Pramodini Roul in Tirtol area in Jagatsinghpur district on April 18, 2009. His friend, Biswajit Dalsinghray alias Anil, was driving the motorcycle and assisted the convict in purchase of acid and execution of acid attack, has also been sentenced 14 years of RI.  

Reacting to court’s verdict, Ms. Roul said the attackers should have been handed out more stringent punishment.

“I have already been punished for life. My past has been erased and future mutilated in the acid attack. I have been subject to social stigma. Not many in society have the courage to see me face to face,” she said.

Ms. Roul said, “I have already punished for life for no fault of mine. But, attackers got reprieve with only 14-year of imprisonment. I will go higher court for more stringent punishment.”

Mr. Vedanta hails from Jorgadia village in Bhadrak district. He came in contact with Ms. Roul when he was deployed in Tirtol area of Jagatsinghpur for election duty. He became livid over the refusal of the victim, who was at the time 17-years-old, to marry him.