JOIN USAcid attacks on women has seen a four to five fold increase in 2014 compared to previous years despite stringent measures to control its sale, prompting Union Home Ministry to look at an e-way to track its transaction.
In a written reply in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said the ministry is of the view that software with features to track sale of acid from point of origin to end-users be developed and used by states.
He said the Centre has requested the state governments and High Courtloks to consider setting up of fast track courts for disposal of cases relating to offences against women and other vulnerable sections.
The government has also incorporated a new section 166B in Indian Penal Code to provide for punishment up to one year, in case the hospitals do not provide first aid or medical treatment free of cost to the victims.
Following a Supreme Court directive, Chaudhary said the ministry has sent a number of advisories to states and union territories asking them to take necessary action for treatment and giving compensation to acid attack victims.
According to latest official statistics, there were 310 cases of acid attack reported last year while the figures had never crossed 85 in the previous years. While 2011 saw 83 cases, 2012 witnessed 85 and 2013, the lowest of 66 in past four years. The figures of 2013 may go up as 13 states and Union Territories have not provided details for the year.
Uttar Pradesh has topped the list in all years except 2013 for which it has not given statistics. In 2014, it accounted for more than half (186) of the cases reported in the country, while in 2011, it had 14 and in 2012, 11 cases.
Madhya Pradesh followed UP with 53 cases in 2014 while Delhi (27) came third and Gujarat (11) fourth. While 208 people were arrested last year, the number of arrests in previous years was 122 (2011), 132 (2012) and 82 (2013). The number of victims was 98 in 2011, 101 in 2012 and 80 in 2013, according to statistics.
DH News Service