2-3 new guns being bought in Sangrur everyday
Everyday two to three new guns are being purchased by people of the district, thanks to the lackadaisical behaviour of the district administration in verification.
Everyday two to three new guns are being purchased by people of the district, thanks to the lackadaisical behaviour of the district administration in verification.
The fact came to light in response to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) act 2005, in which the district administration has informed that on an average 700 arm licences are issued by the district administration every year.
As per information, despite strict instruction for the issue of arms licence by the state government, 739 arms licences were issued by the district administration in 2013, which was 105 more than 2012.
However, the Sangrur administration had issued 708 arms licences in 2011, but the number was highest in 2010, when 1,044 arms licence were issued for the purchase of arms.
As per details, nearly 18,000 persons own arms in the district, out of which only 15,226 have been deposited since the imposition of the model code of conduct after the announcement of the polls.
When contacted, Sangrur deputy commissioner Kavita Singh said: "I have joined as Sangrur DC last month, I am not aware what happened in the past, but I am very strict on issuing arms licence and I assure you that in future licence for arms will be issued after complete verification."
Sangrur SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu also said that the licence for the purchase of arms were issued only after the police verification. The SSP said: "Though, 93 per cent people have submitted their weapons in view of forthcoming elections, but seven per cent are still remaining and we are issuing the directions so that all weapons could be deposited as possible," said the SSP.