Hyderabad, May 26: Hyderabad police have found irregularities in 472 of 4,890 firearm licences issued in their jurisdiction and issued show-cause notices for cancellation of licence in 91 cases.
The irregularities include licensees getting involved in criminal cases and not renewing them, Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Khan, said at a press conference on Wednesday.
There were 4,890 firearm licence-holders in Hyderabad, possessing 6,167 weapons. Some of them, like sportspersons taking part in shooting competitions, own more than a single weapon.
There are some licensees who possessed firearms with long barrels like rifle.
They also bought short weapons like pistols or revolvers since they could not carry the rifles openly.
“Hereafter, we’ll not allow a person already possessing a pistol or revolver to buy an additional weapon like rifle but those owning rifles can by a single shorter weapon,” Mr. Khan said.
Review meetings
Taking a serious note of the rise in the incidents involving firearms, the city police started scrutiny of firearm licences. So far, 2,591 weapons were examined.
The Commissioner said police officers of Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Ranga Reddy district would hold a weekly review meeting on the applicants seeking firearm licences.
This would check attempts to secure more than one weapon licence. It would also prevent persons with criminal background trying to seek licence from adjacent areas like Cyberabad or Ranga Reddy district where they don’t face any criminal charge.
Those who had got firearm licences from the districts and reside in the city consecutively for a month should, as per law, re-register with the police station concerned here, the Police Commissioner said.
Some ex-servicemen also possess personal weapons. The Sub-Area Commander was asked to ensure such persons furnished details with the local police authorities.
–Agencies