Scarred by acid, woman wants a new life

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-family:="" times="" new="" roman="" class="author">H M ARAVIND</span><br />MYSORE: Shanti''s is the typical story of domestic abuse being taken to atrocious lengths. When Shanti got married in 1987, she had been weaving her future around her husband Raghu. But she soon realised that he was a sadist and a chronic alcoholic.<br />After bearing with his abuse for about 10 years, she left him and began an independent life with her children at her parents'' home.But Raghu did not let her be, and attacked her with acid last October. Shanti is now living in seclusion, her face badly burnt and disfigured, and shunned by all, including her children. <br />Raghu was allegedly paid Rs 20,000 at the time of the wedding, which did not satisfy him. He began asking for more money, but since my parents were not rich enough, I pleaded with him not to trouble him, Shanti said. But as his torture continued, she returned to live with her parents in 1997. <br />Shanti, a resident of Gokulam, started life afresh working in an institution as a tailoring teacher. Her wanted to give her children a good education. Life was going smoothly ahead till Raghu reappeared and pleaded with his in-laws for forgiveness. " Unable to understand his motives, my parents sent me back with him," says Shanti. <br />On October 10, 2001, Shanti was attacked barbarically with acid. Though she survived the attempt on her life, her face was disfigured. Her parents have sold a small piece of land to raise money for her treatment.<br />She needs money to undergo plastic surgery and has requested philanthropists to contribute towards her treatment. Chief of the plastic surgery department at JSS Hospital Dr H.V. Satish has said she needs repeated hospitalisation and a minimum of eight procedures which could add up to about Rs 70,000, including the cost of medicine.</div> </div>