Indians For Guns

Parneet, a senior software engineer, was driving back home in Bannerghatta after a long day at the office.

It was late, and he was looking forward to a good night’s rest. On a lonely stretch about two kilometres away from home, he was forced to a stop by two young men on a motorcycle. The rider accused Praneet of injuring his pillion and the two forced him to a nearby ATM and ordered him to withdraw all his money. Helpless, Praneet acceded and was let off only after he had parted with Rs 14,000.

Praneet, as with others involved in IT sector, land developers and businessmen, are frequent — and easy — targets of unscrupulous highway gangs. Several of them are now looking to defend themselves against these attacks and have enrolled for the civil rifle training programme offered by the police. The course is mandatory to obtain a gun license.

“Hold-ups and robberies are on the rise in the tech corridors of Bangalore,’’ Mar Shetty, a senior software engineer with Siemens, said. “We usually travel back home alone and we are easy targets for robbers. The police cannot be everywhere at all times so one cannot depend on them for help. I think a gun offers adequate protection, which is why I decided to undergo training. After this I will obtain a license.’’

Police records reveal a steep increase in the number of techies applying for the programme. Last year, only 12 enrolled in the programme which trains civilians in the use of handling a non-prohibited gun, revolver or pistol.

This year, more than 60 techies have already successfully completed the course. Another 13 have already enrolled for the training programme scheduled to start on September 13. More than 30 techies are expected to undergo training by the end of this year.

City Armed Reserve (CAR) Joint Commissioner K H Srinivasan revealed a thorough background check is made on those applying for the training programme.

“Applicants need to come through their jurisdictional police station which screens their antecedents before referring them to us. Applications from people with unsound mind and bad character are rejected by the police station. Applicants also have submit documents such as identity and address proof along with their other credentials including proof of employment or trade certificate to the police to avail this training. On successful completion of the programme, a certificate is awarded to them. This has to be attached while applying for a gun license, but they also need to satisfy other parameters such as credible threat from an unforeseen source before they actually get a license,’’ Srinivasan said.

The 10-day course includes a test to rate strength and stamina, theory classes on the usage and safety measures while handling a firearm, and practical classes which involve cleaning the weapon, loading, aiming and firing.

The trainees are then put through an exam and marked on a scale of 125. One has to score a minimum 50 per cent to receive a pass certificate.

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/ ... shoot.html

"credible threat from an unforeseen source before they actually get a license"

xl_target wrote:What I want to know is how a motorcycle was able to stop a car?
I'm sorry, if I'm in a car and you're on a motorcycle, you aren't going to be able to stop me even if you park the damn thing in front of my hood.
Even if you've got a gun on the motorcycle, I'm going to take my chances and try to get away in my car.

If you're serious about defending yourself, you have to take a pro-active attitude and you can't let people put you in a situation where you are vulnerable.

kb100 wrote: PS: IN the batch of 47 or so who had enrolled in this batch of training, ONLY THREE people were so called "TECHIES" .. the real-estate guys outnumbered everyone 2:1[/i][/b] ... So much for journalistic jurisprudence!

sa_ali wrote:

kb100 wrote: PS: IN the batch of 47 or so who had enrolled in this batch of training, ONLY THREE people were so called "TECHIES" .. the real-estate guys outnumbered everyone 2:1[/i][/b] ... So much for journalistic jurisprudence!

If he would have mentioned the reality, it wouldnt have made it readable. so he added the spice, by hiding the truth. Why dont you leave comment on that article with reality.

The title is both erroneous and misleading!

Out of the 45 to 47 people enrolled in the last class the author visited on 2/3rd Sept at Adugodi Police grounds (batch 30/08 to 05/09- conducted by CR-South Adugodi - the same batch Dr.BK. Kalavathy who has been quoted was a part of), REAL ESTATE people outnumbered all other fields 2:1. I was a participant myself and there were about THREE people from software industry if I recall correctly ! Business people formed the second largest community after real-estate!

Secondly the little has EXTREMELY NEGATIVE and WRONG/MISLEADING connotations... Techies, or any of the others who were a part of that training DO NOT want license "TO SHOOT" - I doubt if any Police department can give you that! What everyone was interested in was a LICENSE to OWN a weapon... largely for self deference and others for other reasons like sport etc! To use those choice of words readers might get the feeling that the course lets loose a bunch of trigger happy guys with a licence to kill - while the truth is just the opposite! We are taught how to handle and use weapons RESPONSIBLY!

Care should be taken NOT to sensationalise topics unnecessarily!

rsuresh wrote:

xl_target wrote:What I want to know is how a motorcycle was able to stop a car?
I'm sorry, if I'm in a car and you're on a motorcycle, you aren't going to be able to stop me even if you park the damn thing in front of my hood.
Even if you've got a gun on the motorcycle, I'm going to take my chances and try to get away in my car.

If you're serious about defending yourself, you have to take a pro-active attitude and you can't let people put you in a situation where you are vulnerable.

Hi XL Target,

Same incident happened to my colleague at Chennai . Two people in a bike driving parallel to the car shouted and asked him to stop the car, at this moment every one on the road would think differently like the person driving the car had made a mistake, am sure this is the scene created by the thieves. Next moment he slowed the car and downed the glasses out of a shock , that's it a blow was given and a knife was shown , this friend of mine gave the chain and money he had.


I was in the police station with my friend once the thief was caught. The police said , the same type of trick was used on many innocent people from old aged to mid aged. How he was targeted was a different story, but he was followed for some days.

So be prepared , you wont be able to judge what will happen.