KATHMANDU, Sept 8: Lawmakers have drawn the attention of the government over the recent incidents of acid attacks on girls.

Speaking at the House of Representatives on Sunday, parliamentarian Juli Kumari Mahato demanded the government to introduce new laws with the view to control the growing incidents of violence against women.

Referring to the recent incident of acid attack on a schoolgirl in Birgunj, Mahato said that Province 2 has witnessed frequent incidents of acid attack in recent times.

The lawmakers' statement comes two days after the acid attack on 15-year-old Salma Khatun in Birjung by two local youths when she was going to her school. Khatun, who suffered burn injuries, has been undergoing treatment at Kirtipur Hospital in Kathmandu.

Mentioning that the Province 2 Government has been aggressively launching "Beti Bachau Beti Padhau" (educate daughter save daughter) campaign, the lawmaker said "Now the time has come for ensuring the safety of the daughters in the province. The campaign will have no meaning if the daughters don’t' feel safe."

Lawmaker Narmaya Dhakal demanded the government to take stern action against those involved in throwing acid on the girl in Birgunj two days ago.

Lawmaker Parbati DC Chaudhary urged the government to bear all the medical expenses for the treatment of Khatun.

Another lawmaker Pushpa Kumar Karna Kayastha demanded death penalty for the acid attack convicts. "The girls are forced to live in a vulnerable condition across the country due to growing incidences of acid attacks. The laws should be amended, and introduce the provision of the death penalty for the acid attack convicts," she asserted.  

Lawmakers Parbati Kumari Bishunkhe, Pramila Rai condemned the growing incidents of acid attacks on the girls. "The government should work to control such incidents in future," she said.

 
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