India’s Acid Attack Problem

[mahatmakanejeeves]

India’s Acid Attack Problem
http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/07/10/indias-acid-attack-problem/

July 10, 2013, 2:35 PM

By Atish Patel

India’s Supreme Court has criticized the government for not being serious about preventing acid attacks, setting a July 16 deadline for a framework to be put in place to regulate over-the-counter sales of acids often used in such attacks.

These acids are easily available. Wednesday, India Real Time purchased a liter of hydrochloric acid – branded “Power” – from a small general store in a south Delhi neighborhood selling other goods like potato chips and cookies. The clear bottle carries a picture of a lion, beneath which it says “for industrial use” and “caution.” It cost 20 rupees ($0.33). Hydrochloric acid can burn through flesh.

U.K.-based Acid Survivors Trust International says about 1,500 acid attacks are reported worldwide every year. There are no official figures for India, but New Delhi-based group Stop Acid Attacks says around three cases are reported nationwide each week. Most of the victims are women and attacks are often carried out by family members or other known people. Sometimes they are deadly.

Campaigners believe regulating the sale of hydrochloric, sulfuric, nitric and other acid will bring down the number of attacks. “Once it goes out of the market a lot of the problems will be solved,” said Suneet Shukla, coordinator at Stop Acid Attacks. ... “Acid should not be sold without an ID card and there should be records maintained whenever you’re selling acid. The government could also stop its sale for individual users. It could only be sold for industrial and laboratory purposes,” he said.

[niyad]

1. k and r for this very serious issue.