1376 possess licensed guns in city

Aurangabad, July 8:

The government issues weapon permits to the residents every year to possess guns for self-defense and security. Mostly, the industrialists, wealthy and eminent persons, ex-servicemen, bank guards, and professional organisations are given the permits.

Presently, there are 1376 such permit holders in the jurisdiction of the Aurangabad police commissionerate. Considering the need and requirement, these permits are renewed. The commissioner of police has the right to issue permits to the residents residing in the jurisdiction of the 17 police stations in the city, while the district collector has the right to issue weapon permits in the rest of the district.

The persons who have a threat from the anti-social elements of getting robbed, the political persons for security and others are given permits to possess weapons. After getting the permits, the concerned person has to purchase the weapon in the given period and register the information about it on the permit. Then, this person is eligible to possess the weapon.

Similarly, the banks have also given weapon permits. The permit holders have to see that these weapons are kept in a secured place. The permit had to be renewed annually until last year, but now it has to be renewed after three years.