Check cases or face action, cops told

LUCKNOW: The rising number of cases of accidental deaths of bystanders during celebratory firing has made DGP Sulkhan Singh sit up and take note. He has directed police officers to take strict measures to check such incidents.

“Action will be taken against the officers who fail to implement the order,” he had said in a recent directive.

It has been noticed that such incidents take place mostly during marriage revelry or during election processions. With urban local body election process underway, three people were injured in celebratory firing by the supporters of a candidate in Siddharth Nagar district on Saturday.

Prince, 28, a disc jockey, died in celebratory firing in Dudharei village in Muzaffarnagar on June 16. Similarly, a groom was killed in celebratory firing in Sitapur district recently.

Now, station house officers have been directed to display orders regarding restrictions of firing at all guest houses, hotels, marriage spots and at public places.

Along with registering FIR against people who flout the order, the police officers have been also told to cancel their licence.

IG (law and order) Hari Ram Sharma said, “Action against those who violate the order will be taken under Arms Act 1959

› Action will be taken against the officers who fail to implement the order (to check incidents of celebratory firing) SULKHAN SINGH, DGP

(section 17).”According to the Act, unless authorized by the district magistrate, no one shall take arms to fair, religious procession or other public assemblage.

Earlier, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court too had passed an order on February 23, 2016. “It appears that authorities have been conveniently ignoring instructions issued by the court. Owners of marriage homes, hotels, guest houses, village pradhans and police officers need to be reminded again regarding the order passed by this court. In every case of death or injury by firearm, police has to intervene whether written complaints is filed or not. Escalation of trend has to be arrested,” it had said.