No kits, arms licence seekers wait for dope test

Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, May 13

The mandatory dope test scheme to obtain the firearms licence has virtually fizzled out in Fazilka district for want of testing kits.

The applicants have been running from pillar to post to get the new arms licence or for the renewal of old licence as no kits have been available at the district hospital for the past three weeks.

From April 1, the state government had made it compulsory for arms licence seekers to undergo the dope test to rule out the presence of 10 banned substances in their blood.

Official sources said that since then, 408 applicants had applied for the dope test out of which only 180 were conducted.

Sources said that the authorities have allegedly stopped accepting applications to keep the pendency of cases low.

“I have been waiting for my turn to get the dope test cleared for three weeks but have returned empty-handed every time,” said octogenarian Sher Singh, Nambardar of Sukhera Bodla village of Fazilka subdivision.

“We have floated tenders at our own level and the kits will be available soon,” said Dr Rajesh Sharma, Senior Medical Officer, District Hospital, Fazilka.

“The validity of my licence will lapse till the dope test gets done,” said another senior citizen Ram Singh of Bahawala village of Abohar subdivision.

Initially, the government had decided to conduct test for five banned substances, but it was increased to 10 from April 16. Subsequently, the price of the test was also enhanced from Rs 1,250 to Rs 1,500.

The non-availability of a permanent psychiatrist at Fazilka hospital has added to the woes of the aspirants. Dr Mahesh Kumar is deployed at Fazilka only for two days — Tuesday and Saturday.

The dope test is carried out only once a week on Tuesday at the de-addiction centre next to the civil hospital. It is stated in the licence rule that the applicant needs to be examined for mental health and physical fitness with clear mention that the applicant is not dependent on any intoxicating or narcotic substance.

If Dr Kumar is assigned some other job like attending the camps, meetings or to be present at the court for evidence, the dope test cannot be conducted.

Playing safe

The dope test is conducted on firearm licence seekers to rule out the presence of 10 banned substances in their blood. The banned substances are morphine, codeine, propoxyphene, benzodiazepine, 9-tetra hydro cannabinol (THC), barbiturates, cocaine, amphetamines, buprenorphine and tramadol.