Crimes against girls are no news. Although they never were, of late, the trail of violence has gotten longer and more sordid. In these times, girls are highlighting their vulnerability and Sonali Mukherjee is no different.
Victim of a horrific acid attack herself, Sonali believes that psychological safety is required on the social front to curb this menace.
"Crime is the product of a frustrated or warped mind. If it comes from a dirty mind, we just have to remove that. Though there are other options, some remove crime but the rest merely create other reasons for it to foment," she said.
Addressing a seminar organised by Sanjeevni, an NGO at Bokaro Women's College, Sonali asked the girls not to be frightened. "Stay united and fight against such evils," she exhorted.
"The terrifying truth is that society itself creates the criminals and laws sometimes give them a long rope to move freely. Crime cannot be stopped unless the society takes strong action and punishes criminals to set an example," added Sonali.
Sonali, who has launched a crusade against the evils of society, urges people to put in more in order to develop a healthy society so heinous incidents, like the one she herself was a victim of, are not repeated.
Battling against all odds in her road to justice, Sonali wants society to boycott such evils to bring a drastic social change across the country. Women empowerment, implementation of human rights, the judiciary and media can play a vital role in developing a healthy environment, according to her.
Sonali also stressed on the need to create awareness on upholding dignity. Though youths are the future of the country, it is essential to guide them in the right direction to form a healthy society.
Speaking on this occasion, Professor Mala Verma, head of the department of Psychology at Bokaro Women's College, emphasised the need to have a more robust judiciary, conversant with all issues related to crime against girls.
Sonali will leave Bokaro on August 12 for treatment in Delhi. She needs about `30-35 lakh for nine surgical operations, medicines and other expenses to restore her burnt face.
It will take 18 to 24 months in hospital, which her family cannot afford.
On April 22, 2003, she was harassed by three youths — Tapas Mitra, Sanjay Paswan and Brahmadev Hajra. When she dared to complain, they retaliated by pouring acid on her while she was slept. She is now blind and has no right ear while her attackers are out on bail.
Despite having faced Government apathy for nine years, Sonali has not given up. "I want rigorous imprisonment for the culprits by the court," she insists.