Orders review of existing arm licenses and no issuance of new license in coming three months
Display of weapons in public and on social media prohibited, songs promoting gun culture banned too
Action to be taken in hate speech also, FIR to be lodged
Chandigarh, November 13-
In a bid aimed at checking gun culture and to maintain law and order in the state, the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has ordered review of all the arm licenses in the state.
A decision to this effect has been taken after stern directions by the Chief Minister to discourage the use of arms in the state for maintaining peace, tranquility, law and order situation. On the directions of Chief Minister, the Principal Secretary Home has issued a detailed letter to Director General of Police, Police Commissioners, District Magistrates and Senior Superintendents of Police asking them to review all the existing arm licenses in the state. It has also been directed that if any license had been issued to anti-social element, in the past, then it must be canceled immediately. Similarly it has also been ordered that no new license should be issued generally in the coming three months adding that license should be issued only where it is utmost and genuinely required.
Even in that case also the issuing authority of arm license must be satisfied by the rational given by the applicant. Likewise, it has been ordered to impose a blanket ban on public display of arms and ammunition. This ban will also be applicable on all the social media platforms.
Similarly it has been directed that a complete ban should be imposed on the songs eulogising gun culture. Likewise ban must be imposed on carrying and display of weapons in public gatherings, religious places, weddings, parties and other. In the same manner the officers have been directed to organise special and surprise checking in the areas under their respective jurisdiction. The officers have been directed that no one should be spared who is invoiced in hate speeches aimed at disrupting the peace and tranquility
