Bhubaneswar, Jan. 21: Seven members of a family, including four children and two women, today suffered burn injuries after the kids' father had allegedly poured acid on them following an altercation in their house at Saheed Nagar.

Police arrested the accused, Sura Behera, 35, a taxi driver, in connection with the incident that took place around 10.30am. Frequent quarrels between the accused and his two wives over his alleged relationship with other women in the area is suspected to be the reason that provoked Behera to take the step.

"The accused have two wives, who happen to be sisters, staying in the same house. Sura also has relationships with other women in the slum - that often led to problems among the family members," said a police official.

His four daughters (aged between two and nine years) have suffered burn injuries on face and hands and his two wives - Minati, 28, and Aloki Prabha, 25 - have received superficial burn injuries. Sura's father-in-law Banamali, 62, was also not spared when he tried to intervene. All of them were rushed to Capital Hospital. Doctors said the family members had suffered "superficial burn injuries, as the acid was less concentrated".

"Sura had a heated argument with his wives, following which he suddenly took out a bottle of acid and poured on us. We suspect that he has stored the acid in his vehicle. Later, he escaped from the spot," alleged Banamali.

Deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi said: "We are investigating the source, from where the accused had procured the acid," said Bhoi.

Sura, however, denied having committed the crime and accused his father-in-law of pouring acid on his family members. "I have been implicated," said Sura.

Despite the Supreme Court's directives on sale of acids, these corrosive substances are openly sold in the form of toilet and floor cleaners, most of the time not mentioning the strength of the solution.

<>Besides, it is also alleged that a number of jewellery manufacturers are obtaining strong nitric acid without any difficulties.Sources said that most common corrosive acids, hydrochloric, sulphuric and nitric - mostly bought for toilet-cleaning and jewellery-polishing purposes, were available for as low as Rs 20 a litre.

However, shops selling acids deny flouting any norms. "We sell acid only to research institutes and educational institutions following proper authorisation letters from the head of the institutes. Apart from this, the sale are registered and a logbook is properly maintained," said Prashant Rout of Lab Chemicals in Bhubaneswar.

Doctors said concentrated acid had a corrosive effect on human body, which could damage respiratory organs, skin and eyes. "Acids can cause severe burn injuries and even induce permanent blindness if it enters eyes," said Arbind Chinara, a city-based doctor.

The police said they would shortly start a drive to enforce the Supreme Court directives. "We have asked the police stations concerned to inspect the shops selling acids and check their logbooks," said Bhoi. Around a dozen of shops with valid licences sell the substance in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.