SRINAGAR: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) reportedly filed two chargesheets against 15 accused in the Court of Special Judge, CBI Cases, Srinagar, as part of an ongoing investigation into a case related to the issuance of a large number of firearms licenses in Jammu and Kashmir to ineligible individuals, violating rules between 2012 and 2016.
A spokesperson in a statement said, “The case was registered by the CBI in 2018 at the request of the then State Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, the matter was transferred to the CBI by a notification from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India, for investigating FIR No.18 of 2018 dated 17.05.2018, which was registered by the Vigilance Organisation Kashmir (VOK). The case pertains to the issuance of a large number of arms licenses to ineligible persons without due process during the period of 2012 to 2016.”
“One of the chargesheets was filed under various sections of the RPC, PC Act and Arms Act against ten accused, including the then District Magistrate of Kupwara, four gun house dealers, and a middleman. Another chargesheet was filed under similar sections against the then ADM of Kupwara and four others, including a gun house dealer and middlemen for the issuance of a large number of such licenses to ineligible persons,” the statement said.
The investigation revealed the nexus between the Licensing Authority/District Magistrate and middlemen and other gun house dealers. “In furtherance of the criminal conspiracy, the gun house dealers enticed defence personnel posted in distant parts of the country and obtained their arms licenses illegally from the Kupwara district, despite those personnel not being residents of the State or posted in the district, without police verification. Allegedly, illegal gratification per license was sought and collected by the gun house dealers and middlemen, the statement said.”
The issuance of a large number of arms licenses in a bordering district like Kupwara in an illegal manner to ineligible persons is a matter of grave concern and poses a serious threat to law and order and public safety, it said, adding that further investigation is ongoing.
