Indians For Guns

Indian Arms Act was the important event of the repressive administrative policy of Lord Lytton. The Arms Act XI of 1878 declared that the keeping, bearing and trafficking in arms without the license would be considered as a criminal offence. The penalties for the contravention of Act were imprisonment for a term, which may extend to three years with fine. However in case of concealment or an attempt of concealments of a term resulted into the imprisonment of seven years with an amount of fine. The worst feature of the Arms Act passed by Lord Lytton was the racial discrimination introduced with the law. Europeans, Anglo-Indians and some categories of the government officials were however exempted from the operational jurisdiction of this act.

http://www.indianetzone.com/23/lord_lytton.htm

Not much different today . Only the hierarchy has changed: Lord replaced by Mantriji and Babuji !

The original Arms Act 1878 provided for a maximum penalty of "transportation for life" aka "kaalaa paani" (life term in the Cellular Jail located in the Andamans). The 7 year jail term (which can go up to 14 years in case of a repeat offence) was introduced as a "slight improvement" through the Arms Act 1959.

Cheers!
Abhijeet

Well said Mr. Ghorpade. wish to include one more name, and that is MHA. New Delhi.

Jashwantsinh