Punjab govt takes aim at gun culture

CHANDIGARH : The Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab has imposed a ban on songs promoting gun culture and violence, prohibited flaunting of weapons, and ordered a review of all existing arms licences.

An official order in this regard was issued by the home department of the state government on Sunday to director general of police, police commissioners, deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police.

The move comes in the wake of two back-to-back targeted killings in a week, raising concern about the law-and-order situation in the state. The CM has also directed officials to tighten procedures for issuing fresh arms licences, and ensure random checks to curb illegal possession of guns.

The murders of Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri in Amritsar and Dera Sacha Sauda follower Pardeep Singh in Faridkot have given enough ammunition to the Opposition --- Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party --- to launch a scathing attack on the AAP government.

According to the home department’s instructions, songs which glorify guns and violence should be strictly prohibited, and there should be a complete ban on carrying and displaying weapons at public events, social gatherings, wedding ceremonies and religious places. There should be a complete ban on flaunting of weapons including on social media, it said.

The department has also ordered a thorough review of all arms licenses within the next three months with clear directions that if any arm licence is found to be issued to any ineligible person, it should be revoked immediately. No new arm licence will be issued unless the authority concerned is satisfied about the grounds for the same, reads the government order. Punjab, hit by terrorism in 1980s and 1990s, has approximately four lakh arms licence holders, including those of prohibited bore and non-prohibited bore, and most of these were issued during the militancy period, according to official sources.

The government order also reiterated the directions for registration of a police case against those who indulge in hate speech against any community. Mann had, on May 12, condemned the trend of gun culture and gangsterism being promoted by some singers, warning that those found involved will be dealt with sternly.

Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa said: “They (government) have to be careful while reviewing the existing gun licences so as not to disarm people who need firearms for their safety. However, action should be taken against those gun licence holders who are involved in serious crimes like murder and attempt to murder.”

ORDERS CRACK DOWN, BANS PUBLIC DISPLAY OF FIREARMS, SONGS GLORIFYING GUNS; EXISTING ARMS LICENCES TO BE REVIEWED