A potato seller in Canning in South 24-Parganas lost his eyesight after a relative allegedly threw acid on him in December 2022.

The 32-year-old with two daughters, of eight and eleven years, received a compensation of Rs 8 lakh in April 2024 but he can no longer do the work he used to.

Khairul Sekh, the sole bread earner in his family, used to earn about Rs 1,000 a day, he said.

His wife makes Rs 100 a day from selling tea.

An organisation working with acid attack survivors said that acid attack was no longer gender-based violence where only girls or women are targeted.

The organisation has been working on cases where men are victims, too.

“In the past six years, we have seen that not just girls but boys are also becoming victims of acid attacks. But the number of instances of girls being targeted is still much more,” said Shaheen Malik, founder, Brave Souls Foundation. The organisation works with acid attack survivors for their education, health, surgeries, litigation and employment.

The foundation, started in Delhi by Malik, a survivor herself, has chapters in Punjab-Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bengal.

“When men are targets we have seen the reason is usually some property dispute. The accessibility of acid and the severity of damage that it can cause makes it more dangerous,” said Malik.

Khairul was selling potatoes in the local bazaar in the morning when acid was thrown at him.

“It was first thrown at my eyes and then over my head from a jar. I lost both my
eyes and my life changed completely after the incident,” he said.

“I used to earn about Rs 1,000 a day, which has now come down to nothing... for at least a year I have been living on people’s support. That is not how it used to be for me,” said Khairul.

He was in hospital for four months and underwent multiple surgeries.

After the attack, his wife approached the foundation for help.

Aprajita Bose, unit head, Brave Souls Foundation, Calcutta, said: “For about a year, we provided groceries to Khairul and his family, but that is only temporary relief. Through our donors, we have given his wife a flask and an induction oven to make and sell tea. Khairul has made a request for a refrigerator so he can sell cold drinks from his home. A donor has given us a fridge and we will hand it over to Khairul,” said Bose.

In April 2024, Khairul received a compensation of Rs 8 lakh.

An official of State Legal Service Authority said an acid attack survivor can appeal for further compensation as well.