Gun houses asked to ensure safety of weapons

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 20

DCP (Law and order) Bhupinder Singh on Wednesday held a meeting with gun houses in view of the upcoming parliamentary polls. He asked them to ensure the safety of the weapons deposited with them. He also asked them to take charges from the weapon holders as fixed by the Punjab government.

The police authorities have asked the arms licence holders to get their arms deposited with respective police stations or with the gun houses in order to ensure peaceful elections and thwart any untoward incident.

Bhupinder Singh along with Assitant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Licensing, asked the gun houses owners to ensure the weapons’ safety. “We have asked the gun houses owners to make adequate safety and security arrangements on their premises,” said the DCP, adding that they were also asked to install close circuit television (CCTV) cameras. “If they have any snag, get it rectified and it should be operational,” he said.

It is evident to mention here that city has over 11,000 arms licence holders while the number of weapons is almost double the numbers. Officials at the police stations have expressed concern as they don’t have enough space for deposition of arms and their safety. Therefore, the weapon holders have been asked to deposit the same with gun houses. However, the arms holders complained that the gun houses charges exorbitant prices from them. According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), the gun house owners have been asked to take charges from weapons owners as stipulated by the Punjab government.