HYDERABAD: Although majority of licensed weapons have been deposited before higher officials in view of the upcoming State Assembly elections, many others who are yet to submit their weapons include army officials and those on foreign tours.
In the North Zone, of the 860 gun license holders, around 820 have deposited their arms before the police. North Zone DCP Kalmeshwar Shingenavar has said, “At least 85 per cent of weapons were collected by us and remaining are yet-to-be-submitted by some army personnel. We have asked them to deposit before their senior officials as per rules and regulations. Some others who are yet to surrender weapons are in foreign trips.’’
With the exception of those who keep their weapons for sports or for securing banks specifically, every other licensed holder was asked to surrender their weaponry. DCP, East Zone, M Ramesh Reddy said that a total of 476 arms license holders are residing in the zone. Based on orders, at least 415 licensed holders have deposited their weapons before the police.
“We are only making exemption for security officials at banks and those who keep weapons for sports. For instance, members of National Rifle Association can possess arms for practising shooting,” the DCP said. In the West Zone, out of the 1,100 license-holders, 80 per cent have deposited before the police. Police would be keeping vigil on those who have failed to deposit their arms and would soon be sending them a notice asking to submit at the earliest.
According to State Election Commission officials, at least 7,411 weapons were deposited in respective districts out of which six were unlicensed weapons. Of the 7,411 licensed holders in the state who have surrendered their weapons, a majority of them reside in Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda police stations. Recently, city commissioner Anjani Kumar submitted his licensed weapon before the Amberpet police.