Now, dope test made must for getting arms licence in district

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 29

In a significant move, the district administration has made dope test mandatory for the applicants seeking fresh/renewed arms licence in Jalandhar.

Giving details, the Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar Varinder Kumar Sharma said the directions for the purpose had come from the state government. He said the government would check the misuse of the licensed weapon by the drug addicts, thereby ensuring the safety and security of the people. Sharma said the dope test would be conducted by the health authorities in the district, for which necessary directions have been issued to them.

The DC said the dope test would ensure that the applicant was not consuming any sort of psychotropic drug that could prove fatal to society. He said after clearing the dope test the new applicant or anyone who has filed application for renewal would be given the license. Sharma said the relevant directions of the Home department regarding this have been passed on to every concerned department.

The Deputy Commissioner said the necessary provisions regarding this have already been made in Arms Act 1959. He said as per this for getting fresh or renewed arms license the form S-3 has to be duly certified by the health authorities after conducting the dope test of the applicant.

Punjab has the highest number of arms license holders in the country. Being a border state, which has already suffered a lot due to turbulent days of terrorism, checking illicit firearms within Punjab has became a priority area for the state government to ensure peace, harmony and law and order for the citizens, a note released by the local administration read.

Fact file

The dope test would ensure that the applicant was not consuming any sort of psychotropic drug that could prove fatal to society