Acid attack
ACID ATTACK
What is acid attack?
An acid attack,also known as vitriol attack or vitriolage, constitutes a profound form of violent assault involving the act of throwing a corrosive substance onto the body of another individual. The act is typically perpetrated “with the intention to disfigure, maim,torture, or kill” the victim.the term ‘vitriolage’ stems from the archaic name for sulphuric acid, ‘vitriol’, underscoring the long standing use of these agents in violence.
Official Definition of Acid Attack
The crime of "Acid Attack" is primarily defined under Section 326A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, which details the act, the resulting injury, and the essential mental element (intention/knowledge).
Section 326A: Voluntarily Causing Grievous Hurt by use of Acid
The official legal text provides the definition by describing the act and the resulting injury:
"Whoever causes permanent or partial damage or deformity to, or burns or maims or disfigures or disables, any part or parts of the body of a person or causes grievous hurt by throwing acid on or by administering acid to that person, or by using any other means with the intention of causing or with the knowledge that he is likely to cause such injury or hurt.[1]
Acid attack defined under legislation
Acid Attack Definition Under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023
The provisions for acid attacks are now primarily covered under Section 124 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. This section essentially combines the former IPC Sections 326A (causing injury) and 326B (attempting to cause injury) into two sub-sections.
BNS Section 124(1): Voluntarily Causing Grievous Hurt by Use of Acid
This sub-section provides the definition for the completed act of an acid attack:
The Act and Injury: "Whoever causes permanent or partial damage or deformity to, or burns or maims or disfigures or disables, any part or parts of the body of a person or causes grievous hurt by throwing acid on or by administering acid to that person, or by using any other means..."[2] The Mental State: "with the intention of causing or with the knowledge that he is likely to cause such injury or hurt..."
BNS Section 124(2): Attempt to Commit Acid Attack This sub-section defines the attempted crime:
"Whoever throws or attempts to throw acid on any person or attempts to administer acid to any person, or attempts to use any other means, with the intention of causing permanent or partial damage or deformity or burns or maiming or disfigurement or disability or grievous hurt to that person[3]
