Bihar mulls fast-tracking gun licences for panchayat leaders after spate of killings

Concerned over the rise in cases of murderous attacks on elected panchayat leaders in Bihar, the state’s home department on Friday instructed all district magistrates (DM) and police chiefs to immediately act on applications from them seeking gun licences, officials said.

Concerned over the rise in cases of murderous attacks on elected panchayat leaders in Bihar, the state’s home department on Friday instructed all district magistrates (DM) and police chiefs to immediately act on applications from them seeking gun licences, officials said.

Bihar Panchayati raj minister Samrat Choudhary interacts with the media outside the assembly on Friday. (Santosh Kumar/HT Photo)

As many as 13 representatives, including five newly elected mukhiyas, have been killed so far in Bihar during and after the 11-round panchayat polls, which concluded in December 2021.

Additional secretary of the home department, Girish Mohan Thakur, has written a letter to all the DMs/SSPs and SPs to dispose of the licence process as per rules at the earliest, said officials.

A gun licence is issued by the DM to individuals on the grounds of threat perception. “Usually, an applicant requests for a licence to buy a gun for self-defence or protection. We ensure that the licence is given to people who actually need it,” said an official of the home department.

“Any violence against elected representatives will not be tolerated. Police have been asked to get to the bottom of the matter in each incident and punish the guilty,” said panchayati raj minister Samrat Choudhary.

The application form is sent to the office of the DM/SP concerned for verification of the character and antecedents of the applicant through a local police station and to furnish specific recommendations for consideration of the grant of arms licence. On receipt of a report from the SSP/SP concerned, the DM may conduct further inquiry and verification at his level from different sources. A decision thereafter is taken regarding the grant of arms licence.