Indians For Guns

DNA investigation: Licence to kill

Published: Sunday, Jul 22, 2012, 9:00 IST

By Gangadhar S Patil | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

The 1991 shootout at Lokhandwala in which the police killed gangster Maya Dolas indicated that ammunition imported for the use of sports shooters had ended up with criminals.

A specific type of ammunition called wadcutter .32 was found at the encounter site. “Wadcutters are used only for sports events. Since I am also into shooting, I knew about it,” said a retired senior police officer. It goes without saying that arms and ammunition designed for shooting as a sport can also be used to kill.

DNA obtained information on the illegal sale of imported arms and ammunition by sports shooters via several Right to Information and other documents, and interviews with sports shooters, arms dealers and police sources.

The central government banned the import of arms and ammunition in 1986. Following this, there are only two ways individuals can import arms: a) NRIs who hold a gun licence in India and abroad are permitted to bring one firearm into the country on each visit; b) ‘Renowned’ sports shooters (who meet a minimum-qualification score) can import arms and ammunition through the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the central body for the administration and promotion of the sport that comes under the Sports Ministry.

Foreign-made arms and ammunition are superior to Indian-made ones, says a former Mumbai-based shooter. The demand for them subsequently outstripped supply, leading to a dramatic spike in their prices. “This [money involved] is mainly the reason why some renowned shooters sell arms and ammunition they are permitted to import. Arms dealers, in turn, earn lakhs by selling these arms illegally,” says Alok Shetty (name changed), a Mumbai-based shooter-turned-arms dealer.

Rules permit ‘renowned’ shooters to import duty-free any pre-approved firearm and ammunition up to 15,000 cartridges per year. Several shooters often sell their surplus ammunition to individuals or dealers in the black market, said an arms dealer from North Karnataka, who was approached by this reporter posing as a potential buyer. “Often dealers, who buy this ammunition illegally, do not stock this in their commercial premises fearing police raids,” he said, adding that it is “common practice” for dealers to use “old invoices of ammunition imported legally to account for the illegal sale of ammunition bought from the sportsmen.”

“Since the sale is illegal, dealers do not mention them in their books. This means they have no record of the person who buys it from them too which is a problem when the arms and ammunition are misused for illegal activities,” said a senior police officer with the Maharashtra intelligence department.

In May 2009, after learning that sports shooters are misusing their import licenses, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in a circular, asked every ‘renowned’ shooter to submit an annual ‘return’ detailing the weapons he owns or has sold to NRAI. This would be forwarded to the ministry. But, until April 2011, not a single annual return was filed/obtained, said the ministry in a reply to an RTI query.

Shetty explains the economics behind the racket. “One imported .32 wadcutter cartridge costs between Rs 20 and Rs 40. A sports shooter can get around Rs 80 per cartridge from arms dealers who resell each one to upcoming shooters or criminals for at least Rs 200,” he said. Similarly, a US-made Colt revolver that costs less than a lakh abroad can sell for Rs 3-5 lakh in the black market. The Colt is not a sports weapon, but as explained later, part of the scam involves a few sports shooters importing assault models while claiming to import sports models and selling them for a profit.

One reason for the proliferation in the illegal sale of imported ammunition is perhaps because sports arms licence holders are under no obligation to reveal how they utilised the ammunition they bought. In 2010, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued guidelines that recommended that state governments (arms and ammunition issues being a state subject) ask license holders to report their use of ammunition. But a close reading of the guidelines suggests that is not mandatory for states to follow them.

Arms deception
Besides the illegal sale of ammunition, sources say some sports shooters also import assault weapons in place of sports models by deceiving authorities. These weapons are then sold in the black market.

A former shooter and an NRAI official outline the procedure.
While applying for the import license, sports shooters often do not mention complete details of the weapon required like model name, number and brand. The application form contains only details of the calibre. This means shooters can import anything — sports or assault models — of that calibre. A Mumbai-based arms dealer, who claims to have executed many deals for shooters across the state of Maharashtra, confirms this.

“It is humanly impossible to cross check every imported weapon to see if it fulfills norms notified in 1985 giving specifics of sports models. The customs authorities find the norms too technical to interpret correctly,” says the NRAI official.

“The usual modus operandi opted by shooters is to declare that the firearm imported earlier is not performing to his satisfaction and hence he wants to sell it,” said a former international shooter, familiar with the business of selling imported weapons.

The NRAI refuted all charges saying that it has not received a single case in which it was established that ‘renowned’ shooters sold arms or ammunition in the black market.

“A shooters license allows sports shooters to import a meagre quantity of 15,000 rounds a year. They are required to deposit empties with us before importing the next lot. Hence, this allegation is baseless,” said an official statement from NRAI.

However, an NRAI official who requested anonymity told DNA that this is never followed in practice. “Shooters just declare that they have fired all the ammunition without giving us any further details,” he said.

No records
MHA guidelines allow sports shooters to possess up to 10 sports weapons depending on the number of events they participate in. But some prominent sports shooters flout this rule.

Arjuna awardee Ashok Pandit, 59, who won a gold medal in the free-pistol event in the 1990 Commonwealth Games, possesses 15 imported arms, some of which are assault weapons, revealed an RTI reply. The reply also reveals that Ashok Pandit sold some weapons of which there are neither details of the purchaser nor the source of the firearms. This point is referred to in a letter by Vasai MLA Vivek Pandit to Maharashtra sports and youth welfare minister Padmakar Valvi. The MLA has sought an investigation into the matter.

Ashok Pandit is the general secretary of the Maharashtra Rifle Association (MRA), an organisation illegally operating since 1981 as an apex body in the state for shooting sports (more on that in Part 2). MRA has the support of the NRAI. Ashok Pandit did not respond to queries mailed to him by DNA despite reminders.

In another instance, there is no record to show from where renowned shooter TS Dhillon, currently NRAI vice-president, bought a Hammerli pistol (made in Switzerland) in September 2009 on his arms licence no. 1999/July/Ludhiana. He subsequently sold it to a Mumbai based shooter. “Requisite document is not available on file/record,” said the district magistrate’s office, Ludhiana, in a reply to an RTI plea filed seeking details. The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and the Commissioner of Customs Department, New Delhi, had no information on the weapon either.

DGFT, Mumbai, refused to give information on the quantity of ammunition imported in the last three years but a Mumbai-based dealer said the figure is around 2-3 lakh cartridges annually.

As per existing guidelines/instructions, renowned shooters are allowed to sell their imported weapons after five years from the date of possession to promising or upcoming shooters only after the approval of a three-member committee.

Are state rifle associations only set up to facilitate illegal trade in arms and ammunition?
In February 2012, the government eased the import restriction on arms and ammunition slightly by allowing NRAI to freely import arms and ammunition for its own use or for the use of its affiliates. Previously, the NRAI had to go via the Sports Authority of India and the DGFT.

But as Delhi-based shooter Dr Rajpal Singh reveals, there are many fake rifle associations with bogus shooters that the NRAI allots arms and ammunition to every year. These are never used for sports purposes but are sold illegally.

Others, such as Yashwant Shinde, a shooter from Maharashtra, link MRA office bearers and NRAI to a bigger trade involving the illegal sale of imported arms and ammunition.

NRAI secretary Rajiv Bhatia denies all charges saying that imports are being done under the strict supervision of top NRAI officials.

Authors mail id: [email protected]
Link:http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_dn ... 718213-all
Epaper: http://epaper.dnaindia.com/

Welcome to IFG.
It is customary in this forum to post an introduction giving a few details about yourself.

Hi,

I am a investigative journalist with DNA Mumbai. I have been working on the issue of imported arms and ammunition for last one month. A part of my findings are in my article.

Thanks,

Selling of imported arms without record is lil hard to believe. Ammo yes i can still believe, there is always black sheep in all flocks, when you are police officials and army men caught red handed selling arms and ammo, then what else can you say.

Civilians licensed weapons are most tightly regulated, you need permission to buy weapon, sell weapon and then on each renewal the weapon has to be presented.

Putani2005,

What are assault weapons? First time I have heard a Colt revolver being referred to as an 'assault weapon'. I would be interested in knowing which Colt revolver you are referring to.You can buy one for much less than One lakh rupees,I can assure you.

BTW if sale of firearms is allowed after 5 years,how is the sale illegal.Also the Arms Act and Rules allow for the sale of ammunition,therefore how is the sale of that illegal.All that has been presented is speculation not backed by any hard facts.Poorly researched story.The sort of sensationalism that goes for reporting these days.

For firearm identification you probably referred to this ( For Indian journalists I would suggest replacing Glock with MOUSER [Mauser] )

The Colt revolver is just an example to show the price difference. And I dont refer it to as assault weapon.

You should also read MHA guidelines.... which says that sports weapon can be sold to only an aspiring shooter after the recommendation of a 3member committee.

Alleging that any person has an assault weapon and that too on his license, is serious indeed. If you are so sure, care to show one and all documentary and photographic proof?

If you really want to pursue investigative journalism why don't you attempt the bigger picture? Why doesn't the government open legal imports of firearms to it's citizens? Why does it deny the right to life, to self defense, fair competition and so on. Ever wondered why our defense forces are so poorly armed?

On another thought, how come there are multiple journalists suddenly interested in arms in India. There was someone from Bangalore too.

As a word of advise, please understand firearms before you write about them. Should you fail to do so, either you will unknowingly pass on the wrong information or, have people from the shooting community snigger at you.

Putani2005,

If you had said that shooters are selling guns in violation of govt. guidelines - I would have agreed

Now will you answer one question ,"Did you try to find out why they are doing that?"

Also by assault weapons what is being implied? That the shooters are importing AK 47s or M 16s?

What are being called 'sports rifles' in the article are infact 'Match Rifles' and what are being called 'Assault Weapons' are 'Sporting rifles'

Also NRI's cant import weapons only Indian citizens can bring back 1 (ONE) firearm when they claim TR.

I am a investigative journalist with DNA Mumbai. I have been working on the issue of imported arms and ammunition for last one month. A part of my findings are in my article.

Putani2005 welcome to the forum. Since you are into investigative journalism and taken up issue of arms and ammunition, I hope you are already acquainted in detail about arms and ammunition, fired and handled a few of them. Have good legal understanding about the provisions of Arms Act 1959, its Objects and Reasons, from which Articles of the Constitution Arms Act is flowing. And most important of all that arms are basic human and fundamental right guaranteed to every citizen of this country by Constitution of India under Articles 19 and 21.

Unless you are aware of the above basic facts, it would be reasonable to think that you are not doing justice to the topic of your investigation and to your readers. If you have any questions or doubts about what I have said above please feel free to revert.

A specific type of ammunition called wadcutter .32 was found at the encounter site. “Wadcutters are used only for sports events. Since I am also into shooting, I knew about it,” said a retired senior police officer. It goes without saying that arms and ammunition designed for shooting as a sport can also be used to kill.

To simplistic observation and jumping to conclusions. If some criminal is using .32 wadcutter, then he has got it from sports person. Using this brilliant conclusion, one can safely conclude that all terrorists, criminals of all types who use 9x19 mm parabellum pistol cartridges, AK 47s etc. are getting their supply from Armed forces and police. Let us disband the government forces!

DNA obtained information on the illegal sale of imported arms and ammunition by sports shooters via several Right to Information and other documents, and interviews with sports shooters, arms dealers and police sources.

Again appears to be some wild allegation without facts. Why these "police sources" are not filing a case in court of law and more keen on going to media instead?

The central government banned the import of arms and ammunition in 1986.

Please get your facts right, it is not "banned" but restricted. The restriction is anyways illegal and unconstitutional.

Foreign-made arms and ammunition are superior to Indian-made ones, says a former Mumbai-based shooter. The demand for them subsequently outstripped supply, leading to a dramatic spike in their prices. “This [money involved] is mainly the reason why some renowned shooters sell arms and ammunition they are permitted to import. Arms dealers, in turn, earn lakhs by selling these arms illegally,” says Alok Shetty (name changed), a Mumbai-based shooter-turned-arms dealer.

It is clear from above that government is the culprit by imposing illegal and unconstitutional restriction on import of arms to protect Indian Ordnance Factory from competition, it has created price anomaly.

Let me not answer the rest of wild allegations without any shred of evidence, thus they are not worthy of reply.

The NRAI refuted all charges saying that it has not received a single case in which it was established that ‘renowned’ shooters sold arms or ammunition in the black market.

Correct, there is no point replying to wild and baseless concocted stories. If someone has some substance in allegation let him file a case in court of law and law can take its own course.

MHA guidelines allow sports shooters to possess up to 10 sports weapons depending on the number of events they participate in. But some prominent sports shooters flout this rule.

Executive guidelines cannot override the words of law, in this case Arms Act 1959. There is a Supreme Court judgment related to this matter.

Arjuna awardee Ashok Pandit, 59, who won a gold medal in the free-pistol event in the 1990 Commonwealth Games, possesses 15 imported arms, some of which are assault weapons, revealed an RTI reply.

Do you know what are assault weapons and what magical capability they have which other weapons don't have?

You should also read MHA guidelines.... which says that sports weapon can be sold to only an aspiring shooter after the recommendation of a 3member committee.

You should also read Supreme Court judgment that says that guidelines per se do not partake to the character of statute. It can be read here http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17298 In other words MHA guidelines cannot override the provisions of Arms Act 1959 which have been passed by Parliament. In other words if anybody including shooter is selling his firearms by following Arms Act 1959, it is perfectly legal. Have you read what Arms Act 1959 says about selling your firearm?

Hi

It should be noted that when we make such remarks we end up defacing a sport which got us our 1st Olympic gold.

I also want to call out that as a country we are doing much better in shooting sport than anything else.

Finally as a shooter I want to also say there are riots in which people end up using hockey's or a bats do we want to ban these articles?

Our shooters and specifically renowned shots (individuals who are allowed to import arms and ammo for personal practice) are well-respected citizens who are doing everything to portray India on an international stage when we make any remark we should keep this in mind.

Regards
Gaurav

You are making some VERY SERIOUS allegations here by calling MRA an illegal organisation
Where did you get this info from ? Can you provide proof ?

You made a problem statement in your article so now how about a mitigation plan which puts shooting sports into proper perspective and encourage more people to take up shooting sport as a career.

M.

Putani2005 wrote:DNA investigation: Licence to kill

Published: Sunday, Jul 22, 2012, 9:00 IST

By Gangadhar S Patil | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

Ashok Pandit is the general secretary of the Maharashtra Rifle Association (MRA), an organisation illegally operating since 1981 as an apex body in the state for shooting sports (more on that in Part 2). MRA has the support of the NRAI. Ashok Pandit did not respond to queries mailed to him by DNA despite reminders.

The title is highly offensive to the shooting community of this country......
Did your research not tell you that we shoot at paper, clay and metal targets ?

"License to Kill" what a rubbish and misleading title to an objectionable story

M.

Putani2005 wrote:DNA investigation: Licence to kill

Published: Sunday, Jul 22, 2012, 9:00 IST

By Gangadhar S Patil | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

Putani 2005,

Your journalism stinks of sensationalism! I can assure you that you have absolutely no idea, of what you are talking about!!

1) NRI's can bring back a gun on each visit!! (Which world do you live in) by the way I am an NRI, and be assured that no such rule exists!
2) A license holder has Assault Weapons!! Even a renowned shot! is simply ridiculous!! Have you seen this assault rifle? By the way do you know what is an assault rifle!???
3) Ashok Pandit is a pillar in the competitive shooting sport, maligning his name for sensationalism is just down right wrong! Do you have any idea about the hours, months, years!! he has spent in practice.
Have you ever seen him shoot? Have you ever seen his sheer skill on the range!! Do you have any comprehension of his achievements! Im pretty sure you dont.
(By the way, I am in no way linked to him, I have had the privilege and honour of seeing him shoot, and it pains me, the way his name is being dragged through mud!)

Lets talk about your achievements now, who are you? What are your achievements in journalism? Do you know anything about competitive shooting? or about arms and ammunition in general!! What qualifies you to write this article!! Please let me know!!

You have been given a journalist badge and a pen, and you think you have the god given right to dish out rubbish!
Its people like you, who give journalism a bad name, kind of reminds you of banana republics, where you give any guy an official position and a gun, and you turn him into a god damn despot! Well thats exactly what you are!

It is indeed a shame, that freedom of speech is abused this way, I guess, we as a shooting community overall are used to be being abused, when you are denied the basic right to keep and bear arms, and then when you try and win public opinion in your favour, you have Despots like Putani 2005, who write articles in news dailes, with absolutely no clue, about what they are doing.

So now that the ranting, is over, I will wait to see proof on this forum, posted by Putani2005 to substantiate his article.

Pistolero

Dear Pistolero,

I agree with what you said. These journos know nothing about shooting sports, arms, ammunition and arms act. There is no point we arguing ***************************. Sheer waste of bandwidth!

Rot in journalism I say!

AT.