Bhopal: Acid attacks find a head in crime record bureaus

For the first time, the state and the national crime record bureaus have recorded acid attack cases under a separate head, which will help analyse and preempt future cases, experts say.

The State Crime Record Bureau (SCRB) shows that a maximum number of such cases take place in Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Out of 14, four incidents were reported from Indore alone during 2014.

This is the result of NCRB having changed the performa of filing the annual report, said an SCRB officer. Stop Acid Attack volunteers said that the number of acid attacks in India had increased by 200% in 2014. The figures might reflect in the latest report, the volunteers said.

"According to data collected by us, about 200 incidents were reported in India in 2014. The number has increased because in 2013, it was around 66. Still, there would be many cases of acid attacks which were not reported under sections 326A and 326B of the Indian Penal Code,"Stop Acid Attack convener Alok Dixit said.

Acid attack survivors appreciated the step of recording acid attacks separately and said this would help government evaluate the enormity of the problem and evolve a combat strategy to preempt future cases.

Talking to HT, acid attack survivor Laxmi said,"It's good that the government has at least shown some interest in collecting figures of acid attacks. This step would definitely help government and other agencies know about the problem. But to solve the problem, the gover nment should come up with strict guidelines restricting the sale of acid."

The Acid attack victim from Bhopal, Atif Bilal's father Billauddin, said, "Like reporting, the punishment for the attack accused should also be publicised.h In 2015, three incidents of acid attacks were reported in MP, injuring four including a BJP leader."