Rajnath announces crackdown on acid attacks, open sale of acid

NEW DELHI: On the heels of yet another acid attack on a lady doctor in Delhi on Tuesday, home minister Rajnath Singh has now approved a number of measures to crackdown on acid attackers and control the open sale of acid.

"In order to regulate the sale of acid, a web application having functionalities like registration of stockists and retailers, issue of licenses by the District administration, targeting sale of acid to individuals only after recording personal details like proof of identity and proof of address of the purchaser will be developed. This measure will considerably reduce unauthorized sale of acid in the country," the home ministry said in a statement on Wednesday morning.

The steps are being taken showing "utmost concern to the victims of acid attacks" on the part of the home minister, the ministry said. "All such cases where maximum punishment of life imprisonment or death sentence is possible will be categorized as ‘Heinous Crimes’. As per Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, trial of offences under Section 376A-D of IPC, are to be completed within 60 days. Extending this provision further, suitable amendments in CrPC will be made for time bound investigation and trial of all cases related to heinous crimes," the ministry announced. Government also proposes to bring suitable amendments in law to fix time frame for disposal of appeals by courts especially in cases of heinous crimes including acid attack to ensure speedy justice, it was said.

The home ministry also announced that victims of acid attack will be treated by the hospitals in a hassle free manner. "The ministry of home affairs will develop a new mechanism in consultation with the ministry of health and family welfare, ministry of finance and insurance companies so that the victims of acid attacks are treated on cashless basis and the treatment amount is paid from the Central Victim Compensation Fund which is proposed to be set up by the MHA," the ministry said on Wednesday.

Steps will also be taken to include acid attack victims in the category of physically challenged persons/persons with disability so that they are able to access the benefits of reservation, training, self-employment loan etc. as admissible to the physically challenged persons, the home ministry has said. "This will help in rehabilitation of acid attack victims," the ministry statement said.