SSP recommends cancellation of arms licence of two offenders

Despite clear orders from the Police Department that bringing firearms and resorting to celebratory firing in marriage events or any other celebrations is banned, the trend is back on track.

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The district witnessed two incidents in a week and in one of the incidents, an invitee to the wedding function suffered a serious bullet injury. It has raised questions over the poor implementation of orders of the district police regarding the ban on bringing weapons to the marriage palaces or any other venues of celebrations and resorting to celebratory firing.

After the incidents, newly joined Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ludhiana rural, Dr Ankur Gupta, showing seriousness of the matter ordered cancellation of licence of the firearms holders who fire shots in the functions. The SSP also called a meeting of marriage palace owners to warn them in this regard. Senior police officials, who led the meeting, categorically told the marriage palace owners that they should not allow firearms in the palaces, otherwise the police would take action against them.

“We have already sent recommendations to cancel the arms licence of the offenders to the District Magistrate,” Gupta said.

If any marriage palace owner sees anyone flaunting firearms during marriage celebrations, the person should inform the police and strict action would be taken against the arms licence holder. Heads of all police stations had also been told to stay vigilant and ensure that people did not bring weapons in the celebrations or resort to celebratory firing,” the SSP told The Tribune here on Monday.

Interestingly, several times the police had issued orders to marriage palaces, asking them not to allow weapons inside banquets and even the owners were also strictly told to put instructions at such places stating weapons not allowed, yet most of the palaces and hotels are not paying heed to the directives.

In 2018, the state government took strong measures to curb celebratory firing, particularly during weddings. To achieve the same, the government had decided to make it mandatory for individuals seeking new arms licences or renewals to submit an affidavit. The affidavit will serve as a commitment to abide by restrictions on carrying arms and to refrain from carrying the same during weddings and other functions. Additionally, banquet owners, as well as managers, will be required to install security equipment such as metal detectors and security cameras. Even the Home Department had also issued orders to all deputy commissioners, commissioners of police, and SSPs to implement the instructions. To further reinforce this message, warning boards were told to be installed outside marriage palaces, indicating that the arms are prohibited and offenders will be booked. Ironically, the implementation of the orders remained on papers or in official letters only, there is hardly any impact of these on the ground.

The recent incidents

Feb 15: A guest at a pre-wedding ceremony in Sidhwan Bet was injured when a bullet fired by an alleged intoxicated man hit him. The suspect, Jasman Chhina, an NRI from Tihara village, was booked for attempt to murder.

Feb 20: The Jagraon City police registered a case against a Sangrur-based man who resorted to a celebratory firing during a marriage function at a hotel in Jagraon. The suspect was identified as Gurinder Singh, a resident of Ramnagar Sibia, Sangrur district. Later, he was arrested by the police.