Despite the Supreme Court order banning over-the-counter sale of acids, in the wake of acid attacks against women, most of the small shops in the State continue to sell them for household purposes.
When people ask for cleaning acid in shops, it is easily obtained. Acid sold in shops is highly powerful and it is indicated in the label itself.
Acid for household purposes is easily procurable and local brand of acids do not have a label which indicates their strength.
Such unregulated sales of acids are likely to continue until the government introduces strong laws and carries out a concerted publicity campaign to highlight the Supreme Court’s order.
Nellai Shops Sealed
Meanwhile in Tirunelveli district, police sealed 12 shops for selling acid and arrested a man on Thursday a day after a woman and her daughter were attacked with the corrosive substance.
On Wednesday, Sundar (26) of Thirupanikarisalkulam near Pettai threw acid on a woman Chidambaram and her daughter Sita. The woman and her daughter are undergoing treatment at the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital.
Tirunelveli City Police intensified their investigations and located the chemical shop near Tirunelveli junction from where Sundar bought the acid. Upon searching the shop, police found out that the chemicals were being sold without a licence and valid papers. Following this, the owner of the company, H Suresh (33) was arrested.