Bengaluru reports highest number of acid attack victims in 2022

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data pertaining to acid attacks for the year 2022 has revealed that the city with the most number of victims of this crime is Bengaluru. There have been eight victims from six acid attacks. Three attempted attacks have also come to light in the city. The victims of the attacks have mostly been women. In terms of the number of attacks, Delhi has topped the list with 7 attacks. 

Men resorting to this upon not having their love reciprocated is a common thread across many of these incidents. “It is so sad that what we assume to be a modern progressive city like Bengaluru tops the charts in acid attacks and dowry harassment cases. The sad part is that society is becoming habituated and is normalising these crimes against women as mere crimes and is not addressing the social context which makes these crimes possible. Despite demands by the women’s movement for decades now, we are not able to even ensure regulated availability of acid. The crime and punishment in acid attack cases has been so warped, it doesn’t act as a deterrent,” K.S. Vimala, a leader of the All-India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) expressed. 

Bengaluru is also third in terms of the total number of assaults against women with an intent to outrage modesty after Delhi and Mumbai. There were 757 cases filed pertaining to this.