Web application to regulate sale of acid

The government Wednesday announced a web application to regulate the sale of acid and to categorise acid attacks as 'heinous crimes'.

A home ministry statement said the web application would cover areas like registration of stockists and retailers and selling acid to individuals only after recording their personal details.

This, it said, was meant to regulate the sale of acid, which has been used by men to attack unsuspecting women with serious and at times fatal consequences.

"This measure will considerably reduce unauthorised sale of acid in the country," the statement said.

The statement said all such cases where life imprisonment or death sentence could be given would be categorised as heinous crimes.

"The government 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 said suitable amendments would be made in the Code of Criminal Procedure to ensure time bound investigation and trial.

It said the government proposed free treatment for acid attack victims and categorise them as physically-challenged people.

"The ministry of home affairs will develop a new mechanism in consultation with the ministry of health and family welfare, and the ministry of finance and insurance companies so that the victims of acid attacks are treated on a cashless basis and the treatment amount is paid from the central victim compensation fund which is proposed to be set up by the ministry," it said.

"Steps will be taken to include acid attack victims in the category of physically-challenged persons with disability so that they are able to access the benefits of reservation, training and self-employment loan," the statement added.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 217 cases of acid attacks have been registered between 2010 and 2012.

Alok Dixit, a campaigner with Stop Acid Attack, told IANS: "We have been demanding a ban on sale of acid. Hope these steps bear fruitful results."

The campaigners are on a protest at Jantar Mantar here.