Govt withholds return of deposited licensed firearms, sets verification process
The firearms have been divided into three categories - licences issued before 6 January 2009, licences issued between 6 January 2009 and 5 August 2024, and licences issued after 5 August 2024.
The government will not immediately return licensed firearms deposited at deputy commissioner (DC) offices during the national election, opting instead for a verification process based on three categories.
In a directive issued today (6 May), the political wing of the Ministry of Home Affairs instructed DCs across the country to review firearm licences before returning them to owners.
According to the letter, the government had earlier ordered all licensed firearms to be deposited until 15 February in view of the polls. Authorities have now decided to return the weapons in phases after scrutiny.
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The firearms have been divided into three categories - licences issued before 6 January 2009, licences issued between 6 January 2009 and 5 August 2024, and licences issued after 5 August 2024.
The ministry said a committee is currently reviewing licences, particularly those suspected of being issued on political considerations. Only those found compliant with existing rules will be returned to their owners.
Licences found to have been issued in violation of rules will lead to confiscation of the firearms, the directive said.
The ministry also instructed authorities to treat any licensed firearms that were not deposited as previously ordered as illegal and take steps to recover them.
