Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 17: Vigilance Organization Kashmir (VOK) has registered a case in issuance of arms licenses in the State by the authorities who have misused their official position and conducted criminal misconduct.
Jammu and Kashmir has issued second highest number of gun licenses in the country after Uttar Pradesh. UP which is largest State in the country where 12.77 lakh people have active gun licenses and in Jammu and Kashmir 3.69 lakh people possess arms licenses.
The case (FIR No. 18/2018- P/S VOK) was registered after Home Department early this year directed Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu to hold fresh verification into licenses issued between January 2017 to February 23, 2018, in eight districts of the State.
On March 6 this month, Principal Secretary Home wrote a letter to Divisional Commissioners of the State to verify arms licences in Kishtwar, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Leh, Rajouri, Ramban, Reasi, and Udhampur issued to locals, non-state subjects and armed personnel. The Divisional Commissioners had been asked to submit report within a month.
The Home Department had found that according to a report of National Database for Arms Licenses, the number of arms licenses issued to some districts in the State has been exceedingly large in numbers. The Department had suggested that it required examination and verification as to whether the relevant provisions of the Arms Act, 1959 and the rules of 2016 have been followed by the licencing authority concerned, while issuing these arms licences.
As per the Union Ministry of Home Affairs report, various Deputy Commissioners (DCs) especially those who have served in various districts in Jammu province have issued 3, 69,191 gun licenses during the last 15 years.
It is shocking as with a population of 1.25 crore, every 33rd person has a gun in Jammu and Kashmir. If the population and the number of gun licenses are taken into account, 2.94 percent of the population owns a gun.
However, large numbers of the licenses have been issued to Army and other security personnel who are serving in the State and can get arms licences from any district in Jammu and Kashmir where they are posted on the recommendation of a letter from the Commanding Officer of their unit.
And VOK in a statement issued here said that the case has been registered on the complaint/ inputs received by the Home Department of the State with regard to irregularities in issuance and renewal of arms licences by the authorities across the state during the period 2012 to 2016.
The statement said that the district authorities are involved in malpractices in issuance of arms licenses in lieu of monetary considerations and in connivance with private persons.
“Since the licensing authorities have brazenly flouted the norms procedure and rules governing the subject in lieu of monetary considerations by abuse of their official position as public servants which in turn discloses commission of criminal misconduct by them. Vigilance Organization Kashmir registered Case FIR No. 18/2018 P/S VOK, U/S 5(2) PC Act Samvat 2006 read with Section 3/25 Arms Act 1962 and investigation taken up”, read the statement.
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