Court verdict makes it a joyful Eid for acid attack survivor
LUCKNOW : For Reshma, a mother and an acid attack survivor, this Eid was truly special. Unlike last two years, this festival was about greetings, celebrations and good food. A day before Eid, the district court convicted her husband, pronouncing a sentence of 11 years of imprisonment and fine of `35,000.
It was in 2013 when Reshma’s husband burnt her genitals with acid.
“I am very happy that he has been convicted but this is not the end of the battle for me. I want the custody of my daughters and will fight to get them,” said Reshma, who works at Sheroes Hangout, Lucknow. The case for her children’s custody is already in court and Reshma is working hard to get her girls back.
A native of Nakkhas, she already had five daughters when she became pregnant the sixth time. The family was adamant on sex selection but Reshma knew that if the test confirmed a female foetus, she would be forced to undergo abortion. So, she refused. This is what led her husband (driver) to throw acid on her private parts, she said.
“He wanted to kill the child in my womb,” said Reshma, who had to suffer the attack during the initial days of her pregnancy. “I was under tremendous pain. Pregnant and my private parts badly burnt – the mere thought still gives me goose bumps,” she recalled. “After the attack, my daughters called up my father in Kanpur and asked him to take me away with him. My condition was serious and my in-laws had refused to get me any medical treatment,” she added.
Despite the pain, Reshma refused to terminate her pregnancy and gave birth to a male child. However, there was no one by her side to share the joy. Her husband is behind bars and all her daughters are with their paternal aunts.
“The girls are with their paternal aunts. My eldest is 16-year-old. I know there is no one to give them love and care. I will work hard to get them back,” asserted Reshma.