Question : Acid Attacks

(a) whether incidents of throwing acids on women have been constantly increasing in the country;

(b) if so, the number of cases related to throwing of acids on women reported during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(c) whether laxity has been observed in the present system to check such incidents due to which targeted success has not been achieved in checking the same; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to stop such cases in future?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) & (b): As per the available information provided by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), details of State/UT-wise cases registered, persons arrested, cases charge-sheeted, persons charge-sheeted, cases resulting in conviction and persons convicted for acid attacks on women (section 326A IPC) and attempt to attack women with acid (section 326B IPC) during 2014-2016, are given in Annexure-I & II respectively.

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L.S.US.Q NO. 2795 FOR 13.03.2018

(c) & (d): ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibilities to maintain law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens rest primarily with the respective State Governments. The State Governments are competent to deal with such offences under the extant provisions of laws.
Following steps have been taken in this regard:-

(i) Ministry of Home Affairs had drafted Model Poison Rules, which were circulated vide letter dated 30.08.2013 to all States/UTs for notifying the same to regulate the sale of acid in respective State/UT.

(ii) A comprehensive Advisory on expediting cases of Acid Attack and to provide treatment and compensation to victims has been issued on 20th April, 2015. States and UTs were advised to take appropriate action on implementation of section 166B of the IPC which deals with punishment for failure to treat victims.

(iii) Under the Central Victim Compensation Fund Scheme, a minimum compensation of Rs 3 lakh is prescribed apart from additional special assistance of upto Rs. five lakhs for medical treatment to Acid Attack victims.
These advisories are available on www.mha.gov.in.



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