THE TRUE COST OF ACID ATTACKS

After the number of chemical assaults making headlines this year, Woman’s Own investigates the devastating impact on victims

- MISHAAL KHAN

In a matter of seconds, an acid attack can change a person’s life forever. Earlier this year, a 31-year-old woman was attacked in Clapham, London, as a man threw a corrosive chemical substance at her, causing life-changing injuries. And chemical attacks like this are more common than you’d think. In February, two men were jailed after throwing acid over three members of a family on their doorstep in north London, in a case of mistaken identity.

ON THE INCREASE

 According to Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI), the UK has the highest number of recorded acid attacks in the world. In 2022, there was a 69% rise in the number of attacks, with 710 cases reported to police. We speak to a survivor about the terrible effect it had on her life…

‘I lost all hope’

Pramodini Roul, 31, lives with her husband Saroj, 33, and their oneyear-old son Atharv. Sitting on the back of the bicycle as my cousin pedalled us home, I felt the breeze on my face. I was 16 and on my way back from school. But suddenly we ground to a halt, confronted by an all-too-familiar face. His name was Santosh, he was more than 10 years older than me, and he’d been harassing me and my family for a year. It was April 2009 and Santosh had wanted to marry me but I’d rejected his proposal and now, he was angry, carrying what looked like a bottle of beer. ‘If I can’t have you, no one can,’ he seethed.