Acid Attack Cases: Crimes Against Women On The Rise in India

After three minor sisters were attacked with acid in their sleep in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda city, it brings to light the unabated sale of acid in India's cities. A total of 596 acid attack cases were reported in 2017 and 2018, with 623 victims falling prey, but data shows that only 149 people were charge-sheeted in each year. This is almost or less than half the number of incidents in each year. The lowest number of cases (244) was reported in 2014, with 201 people charge-sheeted. Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Delhi have been consistently ranking among the 10 worst states in term of acid attacks from 2014 to 2018. These three states alone make up 42 per cent of the victims of acid attacks in India during these five years. In 2016 and 2017, the conviction rate saw a decline with a total of 25 cases convicted out of 67 which completed trial, while a total of 849 cases were sent for trial in these two years. The year 2018 saw an upturn in conviction rate with a figure as high as 61 per cent, but out of 523 cases which went for trial, only 19 ended in conviction. Watch the video to know more.