KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
The tiny Kishtwar district is toping J&K’s 22 districts in its appetite for gun licences. The government on Tuesday said the district issued 10262 gun licences in 2015 which is less than half of 20610 licences it issued in 2014. It witnessed massive rioting in 2013 in which a gun shop was looted.
The government said all J&K districts issued only 26094 gun licences in 2015 which is quite low if compared to 2014 when 45385 licences were issued. In the first less than half year of 2016, the Deputy Commissioners have issued 3388 licences only.
Interestingly, Kulgam issued 4700 licences in 2014 and not a single one in 2015. Kupwara issued 7900 in 2014 and 4700 in 2015.
Comparatively, Kashmir districts issued licences in three-digits, unlike Jammu areas where it is huge. Ramban issued 6417 licences in 2014 but 1953 in 2015.
Interestingly Jammu and Srinagar districts have not issued many licences. Jammu had 201 and 470 in last two years and Srinagar issued only 38 and 25 licences.
Ganderbal and Bandipora have issued one licence each in 2015 followed by two in Baramulla, three by Doda and four by Shopian and five by Reasi. South Kashmir Islamabad district has increased its licences from 476 in 2014 to 2550 in 2015.
Normally these licences are issued to the security personnel and other non-locals. Local population, especially in Kashmir is usually not getting a licence. Getting a gun licence is a cumbersome problem that requires an elaborate investigation by the police into the applicants’ antecedents.
