VIBHA VERMA
PANJIM: Notwithstanding Supreme Court’s recent ruling restricting the sale of acid in a bid to curb acid attacks on women throughout the country, the shops in Goa continue to sell the chemicals in the open market, making the girls vulnerable for any such incident.
The State has fortunately not seen as many cases as in other states, particularly Delhi; however isolated incidents in the recent past shows acid can double up as a weapon of attack.
Herald visited two hardware stores in the capital to find out whether SC ruling withheld them from selling the acid. But they are undeterred with the apex court’s ruling. This reporter easily purchased one litre of hydrochloric acid in a blue plastic bottle paying as little as Rs 35 for it.
When asked the shopkeeper whether he required my identity proof, he said it was not required because he trusts “I will not misuse”.
“I know you will not misuse the acid. We know our customers even if they are new to our shop,” he said. Initially, this reporter had asked him for only 200 ml to which he had refused saying it is not sold in small quantity because the price is so affordable.
“We don’t sell in small quantity. It’s just Rs 35. It is good to clean the house floor and bathrooms,” he said as he tried convincing to buy the bottle. The reporter asked for a purchase bill for which he obliged but under a different shop’s name to that advertised on his shop.
Walking to another hardware store, this reporter on inquiring found that all types of banned acid is sold even here. This reporter asked for 750 ml of hydrochloric acid for which the price quoted was Rs 25. Again, no questions were asked as to the purpose for which it was being purchased or proof of identity/age. In fact, the shopkeeper was persuasive trying to get this reporter to buy a one litre bottle but one purchase was enough for Herald as proof to expose how easy it is to purchase acid in Goa.
In fact, hardly any shops across the city are following the norm. The hardware stores also stock the much more dangerous nitric and sulphuric acid, which are sold without the buyer being questioned although knowing it is contradicting the SC’s order that buyer will have to declare the purpose for purchasing acid. These types of acid are sold anywhere between Rs 200 and Rs 500.
In its order earlier this month, the SC also ordered that acid should be sold to people above 18 years of age, who have valid identity cards issued by the government. The acid sellers are also asked to submit the details of the sales to the local police within three days and undeclared stocks of acid can be confiscated and may impose a fine of up to Rs 50,000.
In August 2011, a tiatrist-cum-producer Brian Fernandes was attacked with an acid-filled bulb at St Inez. He survived but had to undergo multiple surgeries. Panjm police had arrested one person who was given the contract to allegedly kill Brian. However, there was no breakthrough in the case thereafter.
