lalita Devi, a 22 year old victim of acid attack would not have died had the State government learned a lesson from the Sonali Mukherjee incident and enacted provisions to restrain easy availability of acids.
lalita, a resident of Hazaribagh, after battling with injuries succumbed to it exactly after 45 days of the attack. She was attacked by her brother –in-law on June 17.
Amid concerns for victims of acid attack and debate on regulating acid sale the State government exhibited a stand which did not seem to be in sync with vox populi. In the absence of any legal provisions on acid sale in the capital happens to be self-regulated trade where anyone can obtain acid without mentioning its intended use or leaving no trace to nab the person if acid is used for crimes.
“We have not received any guidelines on acid sale. We sell acids directly to schools and do not entertain requests from individuals,” said owner of Hemant Traders. Acids are broadly classified in two categories- acids for use in laboratories of educational institutions and in batteries. While acids which are usually sold to schools are self-regulated that belonging to later category is sold on goodwill a buyer enjoys with the seller. One of the major categories of buyers of acids for use in battery- motor mechanic- often gets acid very easily.
“We do not have to produce anything to obtain acids. We obtain products because of the goodwill we enjoy with the traders,” said a motor mechanic based in Harmu Road. Meanwhile, the central government has reportedly issued circulars to regulate sale of acids from retail counters besides making it mandatory to obtain license before selling acid and identification proof of a buyer. According to reports, the Ministry of Home Affairs has communicated to Chief Secretaries of all states asking them to regulate the sale through counters.
“We have not received any communication in this regard,” said a government official. Incidentally, the MHA’s initiative has come in the wake of the Supreme Court’s order in July which directed the central government to take steps to control the sale of acids.