UP Police Uncovers Major Arms Sales Violations in Varanasi Range Crackdown
In a significant crackdown on irregularities in licensed arms sales, the Uttar Pradesh Police has uncovered large-scale violations during a month-long special verification drive across the Varanasi range. Supervised by DIG (Varanasi range) Vaibhav Krishna on January 20, the operation targeted districts including Jaunpur, Ghazipur, and Chandauli, focusing on verifying cartridges sold by licensed gun shops over the past two years.
Joint Teams Conduct Physical Verification
Seventeen joint teams comprising police and administrative officials were deployed for the drive, with seven in Jaunpur, six in Ghazipur, and four in Chandauli. Each team included COs, SDMs, SHOs, and SIs who physically verified records of licensed arms dealers and cross-checked them with actual buyers. At police stations, the identities and addresses of individuals listed as purchasers of cartridges were meticulously verified to ensure accuracy and compliance with regulations.
Specific Violations and Actions Taken
During the verification, numerous irregularities came to light. At Rajput gun house in Kerakat, Jaunpur, records showed 680 cartridges sold to three individuals, but only 265 were found to have been actually purchased. The shop's licence had not been renewed since 2021, leading to an FIR registered under provisions of the Arms Act and BNS. Similarly, Jayhind gun house in Jaunpur recorded the sale of 280 cartridges to an unidentified person, resulting in another FIR.
In Chandauli, excessive unauthorised purchase of cartridges was a major issue. One person purchased 160 cartridges within a short duration, while another procured 125 cartridges in violation of norms. At Chandauli gun house, 1,061 cartridges were sold to nine individuals whose identities were not verified, and Malti gun house recorded the sale of 50 cartridges to five unidentified persons. FIRs were registered for licences not renewed since 2021, and a licence holder from Bihar purchased 399 cartridges in a year, leading to legal action.
Misuse of Firearms and Licence Actions
The drive also revealed widespread misuse of firearms. In total, 41 licence holders had used weapons for celebratory firing or to scare animals, while 16 conducted unauthorised test firing, facing suspension or cancellation of licences. In Ghazipur, Singh manufacturer's licence was not renewed since 2020, resulting in the seizure and deposit of seven firearms at a police station. Additionally, 20 licence holders misused firearms during events, and five others conducted unauthorised test firing.
Overall, irregularities involving 2,490 cartridges were uncovered in the Varanasi range, with seven FIRs registered. Action has been initiated against 170 arms licence holders for celebratory firing and illegal testing of weapons. DIG Vaibhav Krishna emphasised that the strict verification aims to prevent cartridges from reaching criminals, ensuring public safety and regulatory compliance.
