The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Adviser for Home Affairs Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin yesterday ordered re-investigation into 79 sensational cases filed in connection with the incidents of hurling acid.

The order for re-investigation was given to find out how the accused got bails in these sensational cases, the Home Adviser told reporters following the 17th meeting of the National Acid Control Council at the conference room of the Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday.

He said the police administration was asked to take necessary measures investigating why the acid-hurling incidents were increasing day by day.

Matin said some 180 cases relating to the incidents of throwing acid were filed. Of these, charge sheets in 101 cases were submitted to the courts, while decision was taken to re-investigate the rest 79 cases.

"Acid violence has increased alarmingly throughout the country in recent time," he said.

The Adviser said a monitoring cell has already been set up at the Police Headquarters to monitor whether the investigation and reviewing of the cases filed under the Acid Crime Repression Act 2002 and Acid Control Act 2002 is properly being carried out or not. The Monitoring Cell has also been asked to strengthen the supervision of the investigation of each acid hurling case. Besides, decision was taken at the meeting to ask the deputy commissioners concerned to send the lists of licenced and non-licenced acid users in their respective districts.

The meeting also directed to apprise the Ministry of Home Affairs if any licence was cancelled according to the Section 17 of the Acid Control Act 2002.

For fair investigation into the acid-hurling cases, the meeting ordered police administration to submit the medical certificates of the acid victims to the Ministry of Home Affairs after examining them properly.