Bangalore: Acid attack cases should be treated as special heinous cases and the unit officers should take action similar to the action take in case of a heinous offence, M.K. Srivastava, Additional Director-General of Police (Crime and Technical Services), has said.

He told The Hindu that acid attack cases are being registered under Section 324 of the Cr. P.C. "Earlier, acid attack cases were being treated like any other case. When a case is registered under Section 324, the head constable of the police station will investigate it. Acid attack cases cannot be treated casually," he said.

Mr. Srivastava said that according to an order of the police manual, while registering cases, the applicability of Section 320 (grievous hurt), Section 326 IPC (grievous hurt by means of any poison or corrosive substance), and Section 307 IPC (attempt to murder) should be considered.

According to a circular issued in November 2004, all acid attack cases should be investigated by a gazetted officer, which means an officer not below the rank of Inspector.

"The circular also directed the investigating officers to seize incriminating articles, such as the acid used, containers used to store the acid, acid stained sand/mud, and clothes of the victim and subject them to chemical examination without any loss of time," the Additional Director-General of Police said.

The officers should, without any loss of time, try to ascertain the source of acid and establish the motive of the offence. The Superintendent of Police should personally supervise the investigation, he said.

Mr. Srivastava said that by taking immediate action in the initial stage, police can help prevent the recurrence of such offences. He said that counselling should be part of the rehabilitation. "There is no specific clause in the Penal Code to deal with acid attacks. The national data on crime against women does not take cognisance of the crime. A specific code for acid attacks needs to be framed. This will help in convicting the accused," he said.

Asked about the steps taken to prevent the sale of acid to "youth," he said that it is difficult to regulate the sale of acid.

"Colleges, hospitals and research institutes need acid for experiments and tests. Youth is a generic term and there are many sources from where acid can be procured by anybody," he said.

Meanwhile, the Campaign and Struggle Against Acid Attacks on Women (CSAAAW) has alleged that acid attacks continue to take place against women owing to lack of effective steps to regulate the production, storage and distribution of acids.

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