Acid Attacks

The death of Vidya, a 21 year-old acid attack victim (Feb. 25), only a few days after that of 23-year-old Vinodhini, both in Chennai, should serve as a wake-up call for the authorities concerned to frame a separate law to regulate/control the manufacture, possession, transport, sale and use of acids. Acids, including those used for domestic cleansing, should be sold only after obtaining the purchaser’s complete address and telephone number with ID proof. The Act should also provide for stringent punishment for the perpetrators of acid attacks.

A. Jainulabdeen,

Chennai

The barbaric acid attack culture, hitherto unknown to Tamil Nadu, is slowly spreading. The ‘vengeance’ deaths of two young girls in quick succession have caused fear and agony in the minds of young college students, working women and their parents. The need of the hour is an immediate ban on unlicensed, over-the-counter sales of acid. The government should also open special wards for burn victims and strengthen the existing ones in districts.

C.A.C. Murugappan,

Kothamangalam

Of late, crimes against women by masculine India are growing and coming into the open. The terrible state of the young victims and their families is unimaginable. Besides punishing the offenders severely, the government should also restrict the easy access to acid.

V. Sethuraman,

Chennai