Uttar Pradesh peaks in acid attacks and related arrests

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh has recorded the highest number of acid attack cases with 186 such incidents reported in the state out of the 310 cases registered across the country in 2014.

Minister of State for Home Haribhai Chaudhary also told Lok Sabha that 27 acid attack cases were registered in Delhi, the highest among all union territories.

Chaudhary said among other states, 53 cases of acid attacks were registered in Madhya Pradesh, 11 in Gujarat, seven in Haryana, six in Maharashtra, four each in Punjab and Andhra Pradesh and three each in Bihar and Odisha last year.

A total of 208 people were arrested across the India for their alleged involvement in acid attack cases in 2014.

Of these, 119 people were arrested in Uttar Pradesh, 46 in Madhya Pradesh and 10 in Gujarat, Chaudhary said during the Question Hour.

The Minister said following a directive of the Supreme Court, the Home Ministry has sent a number of advisories to the states and union territories asking them to take necessary action for treatment and giving compensation to acid attack victims.

The states have been conveyed that no acid attack victim will be denied treatment by any hospital, public or private under any pretext and any erring hospital/clinic violating the legislative provisions should be dealt with sternly.

Administrative machinery of the states/UTs will also ensure treatment of acid attack victims.

First aid and treatment to the acid attack victims should be provided free of cost and minimum compensation of Rs three lakh must be provided to acid attack victims, the minister said, adding, there are plans to give an additional Rs 5 lakh as compensation.