The Delhi police issued challans worth Rs 7 lakhs and seized over a 1,000 liters of acid in the last 10 days under a special campaign launched against the open sale of acid, in a move to curb acid attacks in the national capital. The drive was directed by the Chief Secretary of Delhi, Vijay Dev.

Delhi takes action against open sale of acid

The Delhi Government, in an statement released on Monday, said that a special meeting headed by the Chief Secretary of Delhi was held on August 22, to discuss various issues regarding acid attacks in the city. The meeting was also attended by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal and other representatives of Delhi Police. The Chief Secretary ordered the Divisional Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Revenue) to immediately constitute a special team, consisting of area sub-divisional magistrate (SDMs), DCW representatives and Delhi Police personnel. The statement also said that he instructed the joint teams to conduct daily raids.

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240 liters of Acid seized in Narela 

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In the past 10 days, the team has seized over 1,000 liters of concentrated acid posing as customers and in one of the shops seized around 240 liters of acid from a shop in Narela area."In almost all shops, no records of acid stored in shops were maintained which is in the [sic] violation of the Supreme Court guidelines and orders of the Delhi Government." the Government said in a statement. According to the statement, the DCW was also asked to collect intelligence on the basis of its network of women and identify the shops that were selling acid.

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Laws against acid attacks

In 2016, India recorded 300 attacks but many go unreported,so the actual number could exceed 1,000, according to Acid Survivors' Trust International based in the United Kingdom. Section 326 of the Indian Penal Code, lays down the punishment for acid-throwing. The minimum punishment is 10 years' imprisonment. It can extend up to life imprisonment with fine. A separate law to punish offenders in such cases was passed along with amendment of law on sexual offenses. Supreme Court ordered every state and Union Territory to outlaw the over-the-counter sale of acid in 2013.

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