Delhi acid attack: DCW seeks response from Amazon, Flipkart on easy availability of acid on e-platforms
In response to the acid attack on a 17-year-old girl in Dwarka, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) wrote to the chief executive officers of Amazon and Flipkart on Thursday. The DCW asked them to explain why the acid was so easily available on the e-shopping platforms.
The illegal availability of acid on Amazon and Flipkart also raised concerns from the DCW, who stated that it has to be examined promptly.
According to police, two bike-borne youth are accused of using acid to attack a 17-year-old girl in Delhi’s Dwarka sector. The girl is receiving treatment at Safdarjung Hospital right now.
The letter, bearing the DCW Chairperson’s signature reads that the Commission has learned that the defendant purchased acid through the internet retailer Flipkart. The Commission has also learned that, while being prohibited, acid is readily available on popular internet buying sites like Amazon and Flipkart. The ease of access to acid on online platforms is a serious concern that has to be investigated immediately.
The Commission also requested information about the merchants who listed acid as a product on the two platforms.
The letter further asks for an explanation on why acid is available on online shopping platforms. It asked the e-shopping platforms to list all of the vendors that were selling acid as a product on their platforms. The letter also asked if the seller’s licence was verified prior to advertising the acid product on the website? If not, kindly state the reasons why.
Additionally, the DCW demanded a copy of the permit that the online acid sales platform had acquired.
In the letter, it was requested to supply details of those responsible for authorising sale of acid on the site along with details of action taken against them. The Commission demanded a thorough report on the steps taken in this case.
For throwing acid at a 17-year-old girl in the national capital’s Dwarka neighbourhood, Delhi Police have detained all three suspects. On Wednesday, Dwarka DCP M Harshvardhan claimed that the arrest of all three suspects had allowed the police to close the case.
