KAKKANAD: The district administration officials was startled when a man carrying a rifle entered the collectorate building on the fifth anniversary of the bomb blast that rocked the Ernakulam collectorate, on Monday. On July 10, 2009 a bomb had gone off on the fifth floor of the collectorate building.
Drama ensued at the civil station around 11 am on Thursday when a resident of Kunnathunadu reached the collectorate to surrender his muscle loading gun to the magisterial section which deals with licence related matters. After entering the collectorate building, the fifty-year-old man walked around with his gun in search of the concerned department. Seeing this, the JSO of the magisterial section enquired about his details and informed the District Collector.
On being questioned, the man informed that he had approached the police station to surrender his gun, but was redirected to the collectorate by the officials. He added that he was not aware of its legal formalities. According to the government order, licensed guns have to be deposited to the armoury or police station on the expiry of the licence. “The man said that he came to surrender the gun as he did not need it. The rifle had a valid licence,” said JSO Sajeevan.
Meanwhile, the District Collector intervened in the matter and called the police officials to seize the gun. “Discussions have been held in this matter and we have taken the necessary action. The gun has been seized from the person and handed over to the police officials,” District Collector M G Rajamanickam said.
The collectorate officials have also drawn flak for allowing an armed man to enter a government building without being noticed by the security staff deputed in front of both sides of the civil station. The ‘Express’ on Thursday had reported the lack of security measures in the civil station.