205 licenced weapons deposited with Mumbai Police so far

Mumbai Police has launched an exercise to collect licenced arms in the city ahead of Lok Sabha polls, a drive which has led to 205 weapons being surrendered so far.

As per the directives of the Election Commission, government authorities are required to collect arms, prior to election as a precautionary measure in order to ensure fair and peaceful elections.

Soon after the elections are announced, District Magistrate and Police Commissioner make a detailed and individual review and assessment under prevalent laws of all the weapon licence holders. However, the High Court had earlier noted that this order required district magistrates/police officers to first check every weapon holder's antecedents. The notice to surrender arms till the elections get over was to be issued only if found necessary in an individual case.

The weapon licence holders, who had been released on bail, having a history of criminal offences, and previously involved in rioting at any time, but especially during elections, are mandated to deposit the firearms with the police. "So far 205 persons submitted their firearms. Going by the previous records, the Mumbai Police, on an average, got deposit of about 350 firearms ahead of elections in the city," said an officer.

Licence holder, if fails to deposit arms within specified period, shall be liable for prosecution under section 188 of the IPC. All fire arms so deposited shall be returned to the licence holders immediately after one week after the declaration of results.