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KOLKATA: For a state that takes pride in a much lower number of crimes when compared to several others, Bengal — till 2016 (the last year for which the National Crime Records Bureau has released the figures) — recorded one of the highest numbers of acid attack cases in the country. In all, Bengal had 76 incidents (including attempted ones) and 60 survivors and casualties.

NCRB’s annual crime report, 2016, recorded 283 incidents and 307 survivors and casualties under Section 326A (acid attack) and Section 326B (attempt to carry out an acid attack) of IPC across the country. Of these, 26% incidents and 27% of the survivors were from Bengal. During the same period, Uttar Pradesh , the most populous state with over double the population of Bengal, had 57 incidents and 61survivors.

On a positive note, sources said there has been a decline in acid attacks in Bengal over the past two years. “There are now specific steps taken to cut down on such attacks and those steps are paying dividends,” said an officer from Nabanna.

The Acid Survivors and Women Welfare Foundation (ASWWF) had earlier claimed that Bengal recorded 220 cases of acid attack between 2010 and 2016, which is about 20% of all cases recorded in the country. While there are no definitive studies explaining this phenomenon, the easy availability of acid is said to be a major reason for the wide prevalence of the crime. Stalking as a crime is often ignored in the state, which is a major reason behind the attacks, said cops.

The attempted acid attack on a 25-year-old woman in Behala ’s Parnasree last December showed that the city was not immune to the crime. Though it was the only case reported last year, Kolkata had reported acid attacks in 2015 and 2016. In fact, 2016 witnessed two acid attacks in the city. The state is also the only one in the country which has recorded multiple survivors from single attacks in 2016, the NCRB reported.

Retired senior officers and lawyers felt acid attacks could be prevented. “We need the survivor to report each case of harassment and the police should follow up on them,” said a retired IPS officer.

According to experts, the steady rise in acid attack cases is worrisome. In 2015, the number of acid attack victims stood at 41 (survivors and casualties). According to the Acid Survivors Federation of India (ASFI), despite strict directives issued by the Supreme Court in July 2014, there is still “severe lacunae” in regulating the sale of acid by state governments.

“One of the most important steps identified by us for controlling the number of incidents is to control the over-the-counter sale of acid by strictly enforcing the directives of the Supreme Court, issued on July 18, 2014,” the ASFI said.

Times View

This is a growing menace and needs to be tackled before it assumes uncontrollable proportions. The law should be implemented strictly.

