DGP orders strict enforcement of ban on celebratory firing

POLICE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FIRING TOOK PLACE EITHER DURING MARRIAGE REVELRY OR DURING POLL VICTORY CELEBRATIONS.

Director general of police Javeed Ahmed on Wednesday directed police officers across the state to take strict measures to check celebratory firing and thus save the lives of bystanders who are unwittingly killed.

Action would be taken against the officers who failed to implement the order, he said.

The latest diktat to enforce the existing ban comes after some people were killed in separate incidents of celebratory firing recently. Police investigation revealed that the firing took place either during marriage revelry or during poll victory celebrations.

For instance, an eight-yearold boy was killed in celebratory firing by supporters of a block pramukh in Shamli district on February 8. Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav ordered the arrest of the SP workers involved in the incident. A groom Amit Rastogi was killed in celebratory firing during a marriage procession in Sitapur district on February 16. A youth died in celebratory firing in Bareilly on Monday.

The DGP has directed the station house officers to display information about the ban on celebratory firing at all guesthouses, hotels, marriage venues and public places. Besides registering an FIR against the people who flouted the order, police officers will also cancel their licence.

Inspector general of police (law and order) Bhagwan Swarup said, “Action against those who violate the order will be taken under Arms Act 1959 (section 17)”. The Act says, “The licence or any retainer acting under this licence shall not carry any arms covered thereby otherwise than in good faith for the purpose of sport, protection or display. Unless authorised by the district magistrate, he shall not take arms to fair, religious procession or other public assembly.”

I n an order passed on February 23, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court said it appeared that authorities were conveniently ignoring instruction issued by this court. Owners of marriage homes, hotels, guesthouses, village pradhan and police officers need to be reminded again regarding the order passed by this court. In every case of death or injury by firearms, police have to intervene whether written complaints is filed or not. Escalation of the trend had to be arrested, the court said.