It’s been over a year that 23-year-old Manisha Pailan suffered major burn injuries following an acid attack in Hasanpur village of South 24-Pargana district, West Bengal.
She still awaits justice.
On 17 November 2015, around 10 pm, Manisha was returning home from a computer centre. When she reached Hasanpur, some youths called out her name and the moment she turned her head around, the miscreants hurled acid on her.
As she screamed for help, some locals took her to local hospital where her condition deteriorated. She was then shifted to Calcutta Medical College Hospital.
The doctors informed that she had received injuries on her face, throat and torso. It was feared that she may lose her eyesight completely.
Now she can only see through one eye.
“Will Fight Till the Last Day of My Life”
Salim Halder had forcefully married his neighbour Manisha at the age of 18. But the marriage did not last long and the couple soon divorced. Manisha never wanted to live with him.
According to her brother, jealousy came into play. Salim started troubling his ex-wife ever since she started engaging in conversation with other men or neighbours. He threatened her twice using a pistol and emotionally blackmailed her.
A complaint was lodged at the police station, and the police had earlier detained three suspects who they say have links with Manisha’s ex-husband. They are now out of jail while Salim Haldar, the accused, is still absconding.
Manisha says, “I only hope the guilty are punished severely. They are not human beings but beasts. I will fight till the last day of my life.”
(Tanmoy Bhaduri is a Kolkata-based freelance photojournalist.)
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