Statesman News Service
MALDA, 6 NOV.: Here is an issue that would surely trigger a debate.
Are licensed firearms owners obliged to surrender the weapons before an election in response to an administrative notice or not? More over, are the police obliged to take such firearms in custody before an election or not following an administrative notification. Contrasting comments have come on the issue from the Malda district magistrate and superintendent of police.
The issue has come to the fore in relation to the by-election for Sujapur Assembly in the district tomorrow. While the Malda DM, Mr. Sridhar Ghosh, claimed he had issued such a notice, the SP Mr. Bhuban Mandal says no such notice was issued on the subject and neither did he have information of such a notice, which is why the police did not impound the firearms.
“Citizens generally surrender their firearms to the police following a notification from the civil administration, which is the license issuing authority. They did not collect licensed firearms this time because no such notification was issued form the district magistrate’s office”, said the Malda SP Mr. Bhuban Mandal.
The Malda district magistrate Mr. Sridhar Ghosh had a different version. ‘Who told you such a notice was not issued? He questioned instead and went on to state: “Notification on surrender of licensed firearms and closure of liquor shops including other formalities for the by-poll was issued accordingly; I fail to understand how the police are saying otherwise”.
The Malda SP, however, spelled a way out of the confusion. “There is another provision. A licensed weapon holder need not surrender his firearm on grounds of self preservation. There is no need for every citizen to deposit firearms with the police”, the SP said. (END)
MALDA, 6 NOV.: Here is an issue that would surely trigger a debate.
Are licensed firearms owners obliged to surrender the weapons before an election in response to an administrative notice or not? More over, are the police obliged to take such firearms in custody before an election or not following an administrative notification. Contrasting comments have come on the issue from the Malda district magistrate and superintendent of police.
The issue has come to the fore in relation to the by-election for Sujapur Assembly in the district tomorrow. While the Malda DM, Mr. Sridhar Ghosh, claimed he had issued such a notice, the SP Mr. Bhuban Mandal says no such notice was issued on the subject and neither did he have information of such a notice, which is why the police did not impound the firearms.
“Citizens generally surrender their firearms to the police following a notification from the civil administration, which is the license issuing authority. They did not collect licensed firearms this time because no such notification was issued form the district magistrate’s office”, said the Malda SP Mr. Bhuban Mandal.
The Malda district magistrate Mr. Sridhar Ghosh had a different version. ‘Who told you such a notice was not issued? He questioned instead and went on to state: “Notification on surrender of licensed firearms and closure of liquor shops including other formalities for the by-poll was issued accordingly; I fail to understand how the police are saying otherwise”.
The Malda SP, however, spelled a way out of the confusion. “There is another provision. A licensed weapon holder need not surrender his firearm on grounds of self preservation. There is no need for every citizen to deposit firearms with the police”, the SP said. (END)
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