EC tightens noose on licensed arms holders

Lucknow, Mar 20 (UNI) To prevent misuse of licensed arms during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Polls, the Election Commission today directed the district authorities in lthe state to regularly check shops, where licensed arms are being deposited before the election.

State additional chief electoral officer Devesh Chaturvedi said here today the new directive will prevent the misuse of licensed arms by high profile personalities during the election.

The EC directive said district authorities should regularly check the records of shops, where licensed arms were being deposited and verify the weapon.

Mr Chaturvedi said it was found that several people submitted their arms only on papers with the arms shops.

Recently, police had conveyed to the EC they have no storage capacity to deposit arms in their 'Malkhana'.

Meanwhile, according to the state home department, about 5.73 lakh licensed arms have been deposited either in the police stations or shops till March 18. The government has also seized 3,741 illegal firearms and has conducted 5,165 raids.

UNI