In poll-bound Gurgaon, people retain guns despite govt orders

In a recent observation it has come to light that some residents of Gurgaon city have not deposited their licenced weapons despite the district administration’s orders in view of the 15 October15 state assembly elections, police said on Monday.

Gurgaon has 5,219 registered arms licences but nearly 1,500 have not deposited their weapons till date.

Now, police have fixed 11 October as the last date for depositing the licenced weapons. Jasmer Singh, chief of the arms cell of Haryana Police, said: ‘The people who will not deposit their weapons by 11 October will be booked under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and their licences will be cancelled with immediate effect.’ The earlier date to deposit the weapons at the nearest police station was 30 September.

Over 25 lakh people inhabit Gurgaon, known for its sky-rocketing real estate rates and where locals move in SUVs and brandish weapons as their show-off pieces.

The district administration had imposed Section 144 of the CrPC prohibiting any gathering of five or more people after the Election Commission announced the poll schedule on 12 September. Police station house officers responsible for safe-keeping the deposited arms issue receipt and the depositor has to show it at the time of taking back the weapon.

Nearly 400 new arms licences were issued over the past five years. However, following the home ministry’s directive in 2012, the district administration doesn’t issue many licences.