“India: Crackdown on acid sales as attacks continue to rise”, 10 Apr 2017

IN his ongoing campaign to crackdown on crime, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed all district magistrates to strictly enforce the rules for the storage and sale of acid commonly used in attacks.

…[A] circular was issued...to all districts in the state declaring it to be mandatory for all acid traders to furnish a stock report to the sub-divisional magistrates within 15 days…

Every licence holder is also required to maintain comprehensive records of sale, detailing the name and address of each buyer along with the quantity and reason for purchase…

In 2013, India increased the penalty for throwing acid on a person to not less than 10 years in prison, and limited the sale of certain over-the-counter acids.

But according to the Acid Survivors Foundation of India (ASFI), attacks have continued to rise…

Acid attacks are a form of violence primarily directed against women, who make up 80 percent of the victims, according to ASFI. Motivation behind such attacks can vary; common ones include family disputes, domestic violence, refusal of proposals, land or money disputes, and suspicion of infidelity…