NAGPUR City Police have cancelled 43 firearm licences issued to various individuals for possible misuse and non-adherence to the rules framed under the provisions of law.

Last year, police had revoked 36 firearm licences for different reasons. From January to May this year, police cancelled seven more licences.

So far, police have issued 2,046 firearm licences to individuals with threats to their life or for sports and training purposes in the Second Capital. These individuals include 25 politicians, 33 medical practitioners, 153 private security guards and 1,835 others. A total of 482 licencees possess revolvers, 357 pistols, 271 rifles and 991 other guns.

In 2021, 52 new firearm licences were issued by City Police as per the provisions of the Indian Arms Act. From January to May this year, 16 more persons were allowed to carry the registered weapons.

In the past 17 months, city police renewed 775 licences after inspection of the weapons and re-verification of the crime record of the licencees.

The firearms of the licencees are inspected on a regular basis by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) and also by officers at police station level.

As per rules, it is mandatory for the licencees to display their weapons before the police officers concerned at the time of procurement and renewal of licences.

As per the provisions of the Arms Act, 1959, citizens are allowed to keep non-prohibited bore (NPB) guns.

NPB licences are issued to politicians, doctors, businessmen, lawyers, journalists and others by the Commissioner of Police after due verification.

Once an individual applies and gets the licence, he or she has to procure the NPB guns within two years.

In 1984, the Government had stopped import of firearms for private individuals after the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The licencee now has the option to purchase NPB guns, including revolvers and pistols from Ordnance Factory, authorised firearms dealer or another licencee who surrendered his licence.