Members of the Maharashtra Rifle Association (MRA) are having a tough time due to the Lok Sabha election. As per the Election Commission's guidelines, the police have issued orders to all those who have weapons to surrender the same to their local police station till the elections are over. Some of the shooters of MRA have also been issued notices by the police because of which they are not able to practise and participate in tournaments.
The National Rifle Association had to postpone the All-India Kumar Surendranath Singh Memorial shooting championship because the shooters have expressed inability to carry their rifles.
According to MRA members, they had received notices from the police to surrender their sophisticated rifles. However, according to a circular issued by the EC in 1994, members of the National Rifle Association and Maharashtra Rifle Association are exempted from surrendering their weapons.
Ace shooter and MRA secretary Ashok Pandit said, "As per the standing order issued by the electorate officer, all shooters associated with MRA and NRA are exempted from surrendering their weapons."
"A few of our members have received notices to surrender their weapon and we can't even carry it from our home to shooting range because if a constable catch us, he will surely not understand why are we carrying the rifle and won't even understand the EC order," he added.
According to Pandit, the issue is that policemen at local level are not aware of the order that exempts shooters. "We had to postpone our national-level championship, which was to be held on May 3, because of this," Pandit said.
However DCP Mahesh Patil, spokesperson for the Mumbai Police, said "We have informed all local level police stations about the fact that MRA members need not surrender their rifle and can carry it till the shooting range as long as they have proof to show that they are members."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}