M A I N   N E W S

3,000 ‘fake’ arms licences in Haryana
Tribune News Service

The state authorities are in the process of taking up the matter with the government of Nagaland, from where the said licences seem to have originated. A major racket seems to be at work as contrary to the prevalent norm of issuing state-specific licences, all-India arms licences have been issued, sources say. Normally, licences valid in three states are issued. Allegations that such licences were available on cash payment of Rs 1 to 1.5 lakh have also worried the authorities. The Rohtak range police authorities have started investigating the matter following directions from the state Home Department. A special team has been constituted for the purpose.

Rohtak range IGP Anil Kumar Rao said eight persons had already been booked in that connection. The arms dealers operating in the range were also being brought under the probe ambit, he added.

The said licences seem to have been issued without proper verification. The fact that the holders of such licences include criminals, including those lodged in jails, makes the matter even more serious.

The eight licence-holders who have been booked so far include Satyawan (alias Fauji) of Amrit Colony, Vijay of Janta Colony, Jitender of Rajender Nagar, Anil Khatri and Rajbir of Vijay Nagar and Rajbir, Vishal and Manjit of Sunaria Kalan village. 

The racket

• Such licences are reportedly available on payment of Rs 1 to 1.5 lakh
• Around 800 such cases have been detected in Rohtak range alone
• The prevalent norm is to issue state-specific licences, but these are all-India licences