DEATH AMID CELEBRATION: TIME TO STOP IT!
Police put its foot down on celebratory firing, to hold cops responsible for violation
LUCKNOW: The state police have decided to take stern action against people engaging in celebratory firing by cancelling their firearms licence and sending them to jail, a senior officer said. Action will be also taken against SHOs concerned and policemen posted at the outposts who fail to implement the court order on celebratory firing, DIG (law and order) Praveen Kumar said. He added the SPs of all the districts have been asked to check the cartridges purchased by licensed firearms owners.
LUCKNOW: The state police have decided to take stern action against people engaging in celebratory firing by cancelling their firearms licence and sending them to jail, a senior officer said.
Action will be also taken against station house officers (SHOs) concerned and policemen posted at the outposts who fail to implement the court order on celebratory firing, he added.
Addressing media persons here on Tuesday, DIG (law and order) Praveen Kumar said the state police had taken a serious note of the death of a groom in celebratory firing in Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday.
“Incidents of celebratory firing during marriages and death of bystanders has also been reported from other districts,” he said.
Kumar said director general of police (DGP) OP Singh had directed the police chiefs of all the districts to take strict action against those indulging in celebratory firing. “Action will be taken against errant policemen who fail to implement the orders of the court and the state government”, he said.
“In several cases, it has been found that people have not lodged FIRs. Under the new order, the SHOs have been directed to take suo motu cognizance of celebratory firing and lodge FIRs”, the DIG added. He said the superintendents of police (SPs) of all the districts had been asked to check the cartridges purchased by licensed firearms owners.
“Firearm owners will have to maintain a register mentioning use of cartridges. They will have to produce empty cartridges before the police and if its use in celebratory firing is detected, FIR will be lodged against the violators, their licence will be cancelled and they will be sent to jail,” Kumar said.
The SPs had been directed to create awareness among the people and organise monthly review meetings to draw strategy to check celebratory firing, he said and added that an FIR under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) would be lodged against the accused if any death was reported in celebratory firing.
Earlier, the DGP had directed the SHOs to display orders regarding restrictions of firing at all guest houses, hotels, marriage
spots and public places informing people regarding ban of celebratory firing. “According to the Arms Act, 1959, 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,” a senior police officer said.
“Unless authorised by the district magistrate, he shall not take arms to fair, religious procession or other public assemblage,” he added. In May 2012, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court had expressed concerned over the display and misuse of arms in public places and during celebrations. The court restrained the arms licence holders from using their weapons for
celebratory firing.
A division bench comprising justices Abdul Mateen and Sudhir Kumar Saxena had passed the order in a criminal matter and expressed concern over the misuse of arms in public and private functions like marriage, birthday and victory procession.
“We direct that henceforth the arm licence holders of state are restrained from using arms in celebratory firing on the occasion of marriage, birthday, victory procession or similar gathering. Should anyone violates this order, he will be personally accountable and will be dealt with in accordance with law by this court,” the bench had said.
Later, in an order passed on
February 23, 2016, when several people died in celebratory firing in various districts, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court in an order said: “It appears that authorities have been conveniently ignoring the instruction issued by this court. Owners of marriage homes, hotels, guest houses, 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 fire arm, police has to intervene whether written complaint is filed or not. Escalation of trend has to be arrested,” the court had observed. Though the state government has ordered for cancellation of licence of those violating rules yet influential people manage
to evade action. In majority of cases it was found that firing was done with illegal firearms.
“There is a need to launch a drive against illegal arms and ammunition,” said a police officer. Former police officer and social activist SR Darapuri said the feudal mindset of the people where show of firearms was considered a symbol of strength was responsible for spurt in cases of celebratory firing.
“People residing in rural areas are ignorant of the orders passed by the government or courts. There is a need to educate them and action should be taken against offenders. Police should act against the organiser and the persons allowing celebratory firing,” he said.