Youth gets 10 year RI in acid-attack case

A local court in Jammu and Kashmir has awarded 10-year rigorous imprisonment to a man who threw acid on a woman here last year, saying such an attack was a "worst form of torture" against women and needed to be dealt firmly.
Srinagar's Principal District and Sessions Court Judge Muhammad Shafi Khanhad yesterday sentenced Riyaz Ahmad Nath (31) of Chanapora locality of the city to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for throwing acid on the woman, a school teacher, in Parraypora area on January 2 last year.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the accused under section 307 (attempt to murder) and in case of default of the payment of fine, Nath alias Riyaz Battery will have to undergo a further imprisonment of six months.

Though a convict can be awarded lifer under section 307 RPC, the court took lenient view against Nath because of his age and illiteracy.
"I am of the opinion that in view of the young age and illiteracy of the accused, ends of justice would meet if the accused is given a lesser punishment because of being a first offender," the judge said.
The court also sentenced Nath to undergo a further imprisonment of one month under Section 341 RPC.

"The period undergone already by the accused be set off from the period of sentence," the court added.
The court had directed government to pay an amount of Rs three lakh under 'victim compensation scheme' to the woman who had suffered severe burn injuries on her face and was shifted to New Delhi for specialised treatment after acid was flung on her.

The expenses for treatment were borne by the state and the victim was also provided a government job.
In his arguments earlier, Public Prosecutor Abdul Aziz Teeli said the offence of acid throwing was worst form of torture against the women and "was much more than death."
He said the accused does not deserve any leniency while awarding punishment to him and if a lenient view is taken by sentencing him to a lesser punishment, he will not spare the victim and there was every danger to her life.
"The accused be given maximum punishment by sentencing him to life imprisonment, which will meet the ends of justice," he said.