| 1,17,905 gun licences issued in militancy infested J&K in 5 yrs | | Kulgam tops list with 22,515 licences, Udhampur at No 2 with 17,772 licences | | Asif Iqbal Naik
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 22 : In the militancy infested J&K, 1,17,905 gun licences have been issued in the last five years through various district magistrates of the state to civilians, army and other security personnel.
In reply to A.Q. No 243 of MLA, Banihal, Vikar Rasool Wani, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Syed, who also heads Home Department, stated that the government has issued 1,17,905 gun licences through 22 District Magistrates of the state.
Wani had sought details regarding the details of communitywise particulars of the persons on whose name the gun licenses were issued by the government in last five years. The home minister categorically denied any such information on the ground that the gun licences are not issued on community bases and it can be issued to anyone subjected to the guidelines issued by the government of India under Arms Act/Rules and the instruction of the government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs. Keeping in view the security of the gun licencee, the government also refuses to provide the names of the persons holding the gun licences. The arms licences were also issued to the civilians/army/security personnel for self protection as per the provision of Arms Act, 1959 and Arms Rule 1962. Kulgam district of Kashmir tops the list with 22,515 licences while in Jammu province, Udhampur district magistrates have issued 17,772 gun licences in last five years. Highly militancy infested districts of Shopian had issued 15,267 and Pulwana 7978 gun licenses. Bandipora District Magistrates have issued only 19 gun licenses in last five years followed by Budgam 65, Reasi 72, Leh 135, Ganderbal 153, Kathua 151, Poonch 179, Ramban 271, Kishtwar 473, Anantnag 705, Samba 730, Baramullah 840 and Kargil 1590. In Srinagar, 16,931 gun licences were issued, in Doda 15,227, in Rajouri 13,873, in Kupwara 7,275 and in Jammu 6,276. |
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