According to a BBC story on Wednesday, Lakshmi was attacked on the evening of June 24, 2017, the murder occurred eight years prior, and the verdict, which was given over the weekend, generated headlines in a nation where colorism is a well-known public obsession.
According to the court order obtained by the BBC, the attack on Lakshmi occurred on the evening of June 24, 2017.
Prior to her passing, Lakshmi disclosed that since they were married in 2016, her husband, Kishandas, had often made fun of her dark complexion, referring to her as “kali,” and body-shaming her.
Kishandas carried a small container with a brown liquid—allegedly a skin-lightening medication—the night of her attack.
Lakshmi claims that after applying the liquid to her body, he used an incense stick to burn her after she complained of a strong, acidic odor.
Kishandas added to the brutality by dousing her with the leftover liquid while she burned and then running away. She passed away from her wounds after her relatives hurried her to the hospital.
Rahul Choudhary, the judge, denounced the conduct as “a crime against humanity” in addition to murder, emphasizing that Kishandas “broke her trust” and shown “excessive cruelty in throwing the remaining liquid on her” while she burnt.
“It would not be an exaggeration to say that this heartbreaking brutal crime was not just against Lakshmi, but it’s a crime against humanity,” he said, characterizing the case as belonging to the “rarest of the rare” category.
He continued by saying, “It’s a crime that shocks the conscience of humanity, which is unimaginable in a civilized and healthy society.”
In an attempt to provide “a lesson for others in society,” the public prosecutor referred to the verdict as “historic.”
“They brutally murdered a young woman in her early 20s,” he claimed. She was adored by several people; she was someone’s daughter and sister. After all, who would save our daughters?
The underlying problem of colorism, in which darker-skinned women are frequently subjected to abuse and prejudice, is brought to light by this terrible tale.
Even with continuous efforts to dispel these myths, the desire for light skin is still deeply ingrained in many facets of society and continues to do great harm. Until views in society change, these tragic events will probably continue.
