Illegally used, Una police want 376 arms licences cancelled

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 7

Una police has written to competent authorities to cancel 376 arms licences in the district. Sources here said that the police have sought cancellation of arms licenses on the plea that arms were being used for illegal activities and not self-protection for which they were issued.

Being used to settle personal disputes

It has been found that people are using licensed arms to settle personal disputes. Una district has many land disputes and people are using their licensed arms to settle personal scores. So, wherever people have used their licensed arms to threaten others, we have recommended to the competent authorities to cancel them. —  Arjit Sen, UNA SP

The sources here said that there were 4,735 arms licences in Una which was a huge number vis-à-vis population of the district which was about 5.5 lakh. It means that almost every 10th adult person in the district has a licensed arm. According to the police, many licensed arms were now being used for personal land disputes by people which was leading to registration of cases under the Arms Act. In many cases the arms were found to have been used in murder cases also.

The SP Una Arjit Sen, who has written to competent authorities, including the district magistrate and sub magistrates in the district, for cancellation of 346 arms licences, when contacted, said that the cases registered under the Arms Act in the district have been on the rise.

“It has been found that people are using licensed arms in personal disputes. Una district has many land disputes and people are using the licensed arms to settle personal scores. So where ever the people have used their licensed arms to threaten others we have recommended to the competent authorities to cancel them”, he said.

The sources here said that most of the arms registered against licenses in Una district are being carried in families for generations. Most of licensed arms in the district are of single or double barrel guns, which have been carried along generations in families. The district was earlier part of Punjab. Many people from the district have remained part of Indian army. The arms licenses to these people were issued either for self-protection or protection of crops against wild animals.

However, police officials now feel that the licensed arms are being used in illegal activities also. The drug addiction and cases registered under the NDPS Act in the district have been increasing. Besides, illegal mining has also been prevalent in the district. In many cases the licensed arms were used in conflicts among those involved in illegal mining.

The police is of the view that there should be review of arms licences issued in Una district and arms license of people with doubtful integrity should be cancelled.

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