Read this line: However, despite such high concentration of gun holders in the district, not many incidents of abuse of these weapons in heinous crimes have come to light.Dharamsala, September 10
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has tightened norms for issuing gun licences across the country. In a communication to the state police authorities, the ministry stated that new licences would be issued only on “threat perception to life” which would be gauged from the police report.
Police officials have been directed to evaluate the threat perception to life of the person applying for gun licence. Earlier, licences were also issued for protection of crops and from wild animals. Many such licences have been issued in Kangra district.
Meanwhile, the orders has curtailed the power of magistrates. Earlier, district magistrates had the power to issue gun licence to a person even without police verification of the applicant’s credentials. The order would, however, not affect the existing licence holders.
According to sources, orders of the Union Ministry were essentially aimed at Naxal-hit areas. The government wanted to curtail the number of gun holders in such areas.
In addition to that, there were reports that Naxalites were trying to activate their cells in other parts of the country also.
However, since the order has been circulated in the entire country, it is being implemented in peaceful states like Himachal.
Kangra SP Atul Fulzele admitted that the said orders were received from the ministry. “We have already circulated forms to all police stations that would help us in gauging threat perception to life of a person,” he said.
Meanwhile, the said notification might come as a disappointment for Kangra residents who have a passion for guns. It can be gauged from the fact that more than 5,000 gun licences have been issued in the district. Keeping a weapon or gun is a tradition in most of the land-owning communities, especially Rajputs, in the district. Also, there are a large number of ex-servicemen settled in the district who keep guns.
However, despite such high concentration of gun holders in the district, not many incidents of abuse of these weapons in heinous crimes have come to light. However, there have been incidents when gun-holders have been accused of using them for killing wild animals on the pretext of protecting their crops.
-Inder
