Doesn’t the government know that one of the main reasons why there is a lot of bloodletting in sectarian clashes or other violent activities in the country is because prohibited bore weapons are used in them?It is, therefore, not understandable as to why the government, parliamentarians as well as judiciary do not realise the gravity of the situation. In point of fact , it is the army and the law and order enforcing agencies that should be using the heavy weaponry and not the common man who can be issued with an arms licence by the district magistrate for keeping a non -prohibited bore weapon if he wants to keep any weapon for his personal safety.
In the past successive governments did try to cleanse the society of heavy weaponry but since the clean-up operations for the purpose were launched rather half heartedly and they were called off midway owing to political expediency no headway could be made in the matter. In view of grown and growing acts of terrorism and weakening of the writ of the state in the country it is about time that immediate steps be taken for disallowing the general public to carry prohibited bore weapons on their person. To start with, in the first phase a reasonable time spread over a month or so be given to the persons having prohibited bore weaponry with them to voluntarily get them deposited in their nearest police station against a proper receipt to be given to them by the SHO. If necessary, amendments in the Arms Ordinance can be made also for the purpose. The general public should be forewarned that in case they failed to declare and deposit heavy weapons available with them in nearest police station within the stipulated time and afterwards it was recovered from them they will be gaoled for ten years along with a fine of Rs 10 lac to be imposed on them. A special committee should fix the market value of the heavy weaponry deposited by the public voluntarily and the owners of these weapons be paid accordingly.
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