Women groups, social activists demand speedy justice
Munish Sood
MANDI:
The acid attack that stunned not just Mandi but entire Himachal Pradesh has now turned into a full-scale m*urder investigation after Mamta, the woman brutally assaulted by her husband, succumbed to her injuries late Wednesday night at PGI-Chandigarh.
Doctors pronounced her dead around 11.45 pm following a rapid decline caused by severe infection and breathing complications. Her body will be brought to Mandi on Thursday (November 20, 2025) for the last rites after the post-mortem.
According to the police, the attack took place on November 15 when a domestic dispute escalated violently. The accused, her husband Nand Lal, allegedly threw acid on Mamta, causing nearly 70% burns and then reportedly pushed her off the roof of their house. She was first taken to the Zonal Hospital in Mandi, later shifted to AIIMS-Bilaspur and then referred to PGI-Chandigarh as her condition worsened.
ASP Abhimanyu, who is supervising the investigation, confirmed Mamta’s death and stated that the case had now been converted into a murder charge. He said forensic teams were examining the origin of the acid and the sequence of events leading to the assault. “This is an extremely heinous act and every angle is being probed with utmost seriousness,” he said.
Domestic violence not family issue, but crime, says social worker
Social worker Anupama Singh, while speaking to TNR, said the incident reflected a larger social sickness. “We must stop treating domestic violence as a private matter. When a woman is repeatedly abused, threatened or attacked, it is not a ‘ghar ka jhagda’ but a violent crime that demands immediate intervention,” she said.
She added that despite strict laws, many women continue to hide abuse due to fear, social pressure, or lack of support. “Mamta’s case is a heartbreaking reminder that ignoring early signs of abuse can cost lives.”
Such violence eating society from inside: Theatre artist
Senior theatre artist Seema Sharma, known for her work on women’s issues, expressed deep anguish over the incident. “We talk about progress, but such crimes show how hollow our social fabric has become. Acid attacks, domestic assaults — this is not the Himachal we grew up in,” she said.
Sharma added that through theatre, she has seen how unresolved anger, patriarchal control and emotional suppression inside households often erupt into dangerous violence. “Families must stop normalising aggression. Society must stop excusing it. One woman has lost her life — how many more warnings do we need?”
Pattern that can no longer be ignored
While this case has drawn widespread attention, activists note that incidents of domestic violence and acid attacks have been reported in the region before. Each case, they say, reflects the urgent need for counselling mechanisms, stronger enforcement of protection laws and better monitoring of hazardous substances like acid.
Residents in Mandi have expressed deep shock and are demanding swift justice. Many have called for stricter surveillance on acid sale, more support systems for women facing abuse and faster police intervention in high-risk households.
