Another Case of Police Excess - 4 Arms License Holders Booked for Being Unable to Produce Empty Shells!

[mundaire]

In another case of Police excess in Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow police has booked 4 Arms License holders for being unable to produce empty shells for ammunition purchased by them over the past several years!

As usual, crimes are being committed using illegal firearms and frustrated with their inability to do anything about the criminals, our police is targetting law abiding gun owners who hold legal licensed guns!

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/4 ... 68u7J.html

4 arms licence holders booked for failing to give details of used cartridges
Updated: Sep 27, 2019 21:31 IST
HT Correspondent

A day after the formation of a dedicated cell for arms and ammunition control, the Lucknow police on Friday tightened the noose around 25 arms licence holders who had failed to give details about the cartridges purchased and used by them over the past few years.

The police lodged FIRs against four arms licence holders for violation under Sections 29 and 30 of the Arms Act 1959 and seized their weapons and cartridges.

The four FIRs were lodged at Gomti Nagar, Gosainganj, Alambagh and Para police stations. More FIRs were likely against those who fail to give details of cartridges purchased and used by them, said Kalanidhi Naithani, SSP (Lucknow).

“After getting details from the office of district magistrate, we summoned 25 licence holders who purchased pistols. The FIRs were lodged after four of them failed to give details about the purchased/ used cartridges and its shells,” the SSP said.

“Initially, we aim to verify details of licence holders who have .30 and .32 bore firearms. Bullets of such weapons have mainly been used in recent incidents of gun violence in Lucknow,” he said.

Citing an example, the SSP said a Gomti Nagar property dealer Kamlesh Yadav got a firearms licence issued in his name in 2006 and purchased a .32 bore pistol and 225 cartridges in 13 years. He was in possession of at least 46 cartridges and seven bullet shells but could not give an account of the remaining cartridges and shells, he said.

Similarly, a marriage lawn owner Rahul Singh of Para owned a .30 pistol and had purchased around 75 cartridges in the past few years. He had not purchased any cartridges in two years but failed to give details of the ones purchased earlier, added the SSP.

“As many as 25 cartridges and 10 bullet shells were found in his possession but he failed to give details of the remaining cartridges/ bullet shells, following which the case was registered against him,” he said.

The SSP said two others against whom action was initiated were Ved Prakash Yadav of Gosainganj and PK Gupta of Alambagh, who own .32 bore pistols. Similar action was likely against other licence holders, if they failed to give details of cartridges purchased and the ones used.

First Published: Sep 27, 2019 21:31 IST

[Vikram]

Ridiculous, draconian and harassment.

[Armed Defence]

People can collect the spent cases/shells but what if the police asks how were the cartridges used? Everybody doesn't have easy access to shooting ranges for firing practice.

[Ayush_3005]

We as community should help nd support them in getting their licenses nd weapons back.....
Especially ppl who are having contacts with/are influential personalities in or nearby lucknow, should support them,
because if it's happening to them it could happen to any of us
Someone once said," one can stop a small spring popping out in a mountain with just a small stone, but if neglected the small spring becomes huge waterfall like nd then even an elephant won't be able to cross it"

[Martin Clarke]

""Bullets of such weapons have mainly been used in recent incidents of gun violence in Lucknow,” he said."
Kattas for 12G and .315 are also widely used by criminals - next they will go after licensees for 12G shotguns and .315 rifles also!!

[Ayush_3005]

That's why I'm asking ppl having contacts in lucknow to support them, if today its happening to them, tomorrow it could happen to us also

[ASIF007]

Really sad that this happened but my learning is we should always store most of our empty Cartridges if possible. Never know when the rules get changed.

[Jr.]

Complete nonsense. Very unfortunate.
Legitimate License Holders,
Face continuous harassment.
Whereas Criminals can source Arms, of their choice.
How will this help the Police.
If the spent Shells are available with the License Holder,
What is there to question.
One can practice in a Farm etc.
Would any License Holder part with his Ammunition,
Knowingly for ill intent.
Every body is aware of the consequences.
On the other hand would a criminal,
Need to borrow ammunition.
If somebody is bent on doing wrong or sabotage,
This rule will not prevent anything.
If One owns 3 Weapons,
And is allowed 50 Cartridges a year.
In 10 years He will have to account for 1500 Shells.
Most commonly available Pistols in India
(.22,.25,.32) have very small Cartridges,
If the Shell is Ejected in the open,
It may be difficult to locate.

Regards,
Jr.

[veeveeaar]

Come On Let us face this head on. Please ask them to book a case as soon as possible. The court will find the POLICE guilty of willfull harrasment or excess of brief . Dont worry nothing can be done by the police. It is a pity that this has happenned. It is a bleessing in disguise.

[bandukbhandar]

Allahabad high court has already termed it illegal.
Also Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India in a RTI query has replied, that there is no provision of it in Arms Rules 2016.
But state govt. says, due to law and order problem, we have right to take such action.

[sumbriavikramaditya]

A land which is governed by Law but is lacking in its enforcement, is a place where only law abiding citizens are Harassed. These 4 concerned License Holders should file a case in Court. They might have done it already. But in many cases even Courts give priority to National or State level security situation. Lets see.

But what should be the course of action to be taken by Supporters of RKBA? Please advise.

[sfcabhishek]

If only criminals used licensed guns and bullets to commit crimes.

Of course, the best way to control gun related crime is to harrass law abiding citizens by asking them to save shells and keep a ledger to note down the places and time when cartridges were fired, that too of several years. This is just classic diversion of police, you can't control crime so let's exploit the misnomer that gun owners are responsible for gun violence. Do they even patrol in their districts or have then even touched the NCRB records, if they had they would know that what they are working on doesn't contributes to gun crimes statistics. Unlawful arms and ammunition are used, and why would a license holder having quota of 50/year sell it ? Wouldn't be better to procure the ammunition from private ammunition manufacturers ? They should check with their Reserve Lines and RI , I am sure they'll find a lot of guns and massive amounts of ammunition missing or "damaged beyond repair, sent for disposal" This is just Inspector Raj. And just because I don't remember when and where I fired that automatically makes me a Accused ? I murdered someone ? I fired in celebration ? I bet those police men can't even remember when and where they fired in past several years and they are supposed to make a formal entry. And then they expect us to remember all this. The bullet is my non transferable property, I'll do whatever I feel like doing with it with the framework of law. No law is in force which mandates accounting and recording of empty shells or even obligates you to tell where you used the bullets. I couldn't find anything in Arms Act or Rules. Just a GO, and since when does a GO have overriding effect on Central Acts and Rules.
This is to break the gun community and culture, people would be afraid to take licensed guns that they willl be harassed and prosecuted. And would eventually turn to unlawful ones. Why can't they just do actual police work, maintain law and order instead of party tricks.