An acid attack survivor has finally got a justice, when her attacker was arrested by the Aligarh police — 21 long years after he had committed this heinous act.

Ruqaiya, now 35, was just a 14-year-old teenager when the accused, Arif allegedly threw acid at her on the night of 7 September, 2002. Arif is her sister’s brother-in-law and is now in his mid-40s.

Ruqaiya said that she had gone to visit her sister at her in-law’s home in Delhi Gate area of Aligarh. Arif, who was already present at that home was trying to misbehave with Ruqaiya, and when she resisted, he threw acid at her.

Ruqaiya’s face and body were badly burnt, but instead of taking strict action against the accused, her family had pressurized her to remain silent. She has undergone long treatment for years but despite the trauma and pain she faced every day, no action was taken against the accused. She could not muster the courage to lodge an FIR on her own.

Arif was arrested on orders given in January this year by then Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, Agra, Rajeev Krishna, when he met Ruqaiya, among other acid attack survivors, at Sheroes Hangout, a café run by such survivors, in the city.

Ruqaiya narrated her ordeal to the ADGP and requested him to take immediate action against Arif. After ADGP’s orders, an FIR was registered at the Etmaduddaula police station of Agra, which was later transferred to the Aligarh police.

In 2014, Ruqaiya joined the Sheroes Hangout which helped her gain some confidence. however, she was still could not file a case against Arif as, by now, the incident was “too old”.

However, after the ADGP’s order and FIR, the Aligarh police collected all evidence in the two-decade-old incident and finally arrested Arif, who was sent to jail Saturday.

Ruqaiya is now feeling content after the arrest, but said it was just one landmark in her struggle for justice and the real victory would be when Arif got the punishment he deserved for “destroying her life”.