As attacks rise, government moves to regulate sale of acids
5 min read . Updated: 11 Jun 2013, 01:02 AM IST
PremiumUnion home ministry estimates around 500 acid attacks over the past four years
New Delhi: On 2 May, Preeti Rathi took a train to Mumbai where she was to start work as a nurse at Army Medical College, Colaba. A few minutes after she arrived in Mumbai, she was the target of an acid attack by a masked man.
Acid attacks are becoming increasingly common in India, and while there is no data on the number of such attacks across the country, the Union home ministry estimates around 500 attacks over the past four years. A report in the Times of India, that said there have been 56 such instances in Delhi alone in a three month period from February to April, indicates that the actual number could be much more.
Many of the attacks are carried out by men who have had their advances or proposals for marriage spurned by the victims, or by stalkers.
Their weapon of choice— acid—is easily available.
Sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid are usually used in the attacks and they are available in local hardware for as low as ₹ 20-30 a litre.
Pragya Singh, campaign co-ordinator of Stop Acid Attacks (SAA), a campaign launched by Saraswati Siksha Samiti, a non-governmental organization, says that buying acid is as easy as buying candy.
Now, the government has decided to clamp down on acid sales in an attempt to curb acid attacks.
The decision was taken following two meetings between the officials of Union home ministry and state governments. The participants agreed that sale of acids of higher concentration should be regulated with exemptions for laboratories, commercial establishments and industries. Mint has reviewed minutes of the meetings, held through video-conferencing, and chaired by Union home secretary R.K. Singh.
“Let us do a comprehensive exercise and not merely prescribe deterrent punishment. The ordinance imposes a fine of up to ₹ 10 lakh on the offender. But if the convict is not in a position to pay, should the state not step in to treat, rehabilitate and compensate the acid attack victim? Should there not be a separate fund for this purpose?" The Times of India reported, quoting observations of a bench of Justices R. M. Lodha, J. Chelameswar and Madan B. Lokur.
Perpetrators of acid attacks also face up to 10 years in jail in case of non-fatal attacks.
It may not be easy to monitor sales of acid.
Prabhsharan Singh, who heads the chemical division at industry lobby Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) said that acids are widely used in industries as diverse as fertilizers, water treatment, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, even food processing. A FICCI white paper argues that “it is practically not possible to control the use and sales and distribution of acids" that are made by thousands of companies, many of which are so-called small and medium sized enterprises. Indeed, the government’s decision only pertains to acids of higher concentration and potency and it would be impossible to monitor sales of all acids because they are used in a variety of industries, said a home ministry official who did not want to be identified.
Still, doing so isn’t impossible, said Subhas Chakraborty, executive director, Acid Survivors Foundation India, a non governmental organization, who pointed to laws that check manufacture, storage and sale of acids in Bangladesh and Pakistan, two other countries where acid attacks are common.
Whatever it takes, activists such as Chakraborty are convinced it would be worth the effort.
PTI contributed to this story.
