RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, April 1: Procuring an arms license in Jharkhand is a time taking and money consuming affair. Issuance of arms license depends more on ‘paisa’ and ‘pairvi’ than security threat and other requirements of the applicants.
A section of licensed arms holders in the Jharkhand capital informed Lagatar 24.com sharing their experience of getting an arms license in the Jharkhand capital.
“An application does not move without a bribe and the rate of bribe varies from person to person. If the applicant is not a businessman, the charge will be less and if he is a businessman, the charge will be more. The bribe involved in the procurement of a firearm license varies from Rs one lakh to Rs 5 lakh,” the firearms license holders, requesting anonymity, said.
Another applicant supported the fact saying it took him Rs 4500 to complete the process of applying at the arms magistrate office and the application in a prescribed form to the police station.
“First time my form was rejected. I applied for the second time, paying the fee and processing charge again. I have been asked to keep the bribe amount ready. For clearance from the police station, I have been asked to keep Rs 5000 to Rs 10000 ready while for clearance from the Dy SP office I have been asked to keep Rs 15000 ready and so on at a higher level. I have been asked to keep Rs one lakh ready for a revolver of 7.56mm bore. Though I know people at different levels and I can manage the work without bribes but for that, I will have to devote time to leaving my work. Demand is raised in the name of office ‘kharcha’,” the applicant, requesting anonymity, said.
“Recently BJP legislator C.P.Singh alleged Ranchi deputy commissioner Chhavi Ranjan of receiving Rs 3 lakh for issuing arms license. Following the allegation, the DC restrained people from visiting his official residence for arms license-related work. But so far no inquiry has been initiated in the matter. Once this happens illegal transaction of money for processing and issuance of arms license will come to the fore,” the applicant said.
A police official in the Jharkhand capital confirmed the situation but at the same time, he said there is no way out.
“If the process of issuance of arms licenses is made easy a new problem will develop. The number of applicants will rise and there will be many people in the city having licensed arms and this may cause another problem,” the police official said.
A high court advocate supported the police officer but said that if someone having no criminal record and is able to properly use and keep arms and ammunition should not be deprived of a license as having limited arms and ammunition with bonafide citizen boost the morale of criminals who procure arms from illegal means and make the society insecure.
“The administration should issue licenses and ensure that licensed arms are kept properly and being used for the right purpose. Those found misusing the licensed arms should be handled with an iron hand. Such licensed arms holders will finally help the police in the maintenance of law and order as the administration is not in a position to depute police to protect every citizen and policing has not become so perfect that it could predict crime and take preventive action,” the high court advocate said.
