Booming gun trade

THE mushrooming of factories and workshops for the manufacture of unlicensed arms and ammunition across the country stems from gross dereliction of duty on the part of the authorities in various states and union territories. The use of these weapons in murder and other crimes is a matter of concern not only for law enforcement agencies but also for the public. Slamming the generally ‘lackadaisical’ approach to the implementation of the Arms Act, 1959, and the Arms Rules, 2016, the Supreme Court has set up a five-member committee headed by the Chief Secretary in each state and UT to tackle the menace. Each panel has been given 10 weeks to formulate an action plan to enforce the Act and the rules. The obvious question is: Why is this plan not already in place even though there is a well-defined regulatory framework?

The manufacture, sale and use of illegal firearms has serious implications for India’s internal security. Last week, the National Investigation Agency chargesheeted a Mizoram resident for his alleged involvement in the trafficking of arms and ammunition to strife-torn Manipur and other states. Militants in Manipur are using unlicensed arms along with weapons looted from police armouries. Curbing the supply of unauthorised guns is vital for restoring peace in the northeastern state.

Statistics sum up the disturbing state of affairs. According to the Crime in India report of the National Crime Records Bureau, 80,118 cases were registered nationwide in 2022 under the Arms Act; of the 1.04 lakh arms seized, more than 95 per cent were unlicensed, improvised, crude or country-made. A major source of these weapons is Uttar Pradesh; it’s no secret that many such firearms are being used to commit crimes in the National Capital Region and beyond. Police officials and politicians in league with unauthorised arms manufacturers and vendors should be brought to book. To start with, a comprehensive audit of factories and workshops — licensed or otherwise — should be conducted posthaste.