Varanasi: The district magistrate’s court in Azamgarh cancelled the arms licences of seven people, including those accused in cases involving Pocso Act , attempt to murder, assault, the Gangsters Act, the Arms Act and other serious charges. The action was also taken against licence holders for alleged misuse of firearms, including celebratory firing, citing concerns over public safety and maintenance of public peace.
Kumar said that during the ongoing verification of arms licences, two licences, including a rifle and a revolver issued to Mohammad Arif of Kamraon under Gambhirpur police station limits, were checked. On finding several criminal cases, including one under the Pocso Act, registered against him, cops prepared a report seeking cancellation of both arms licences. The report also mentioned excessive use of cartridges. The court considered celebratory firing and violation of licence conditions a serious threat to public peace and cancelled the licences. The court also cancelled the rifle licences of Manjeet alias Ranjeet Singh of the Kotwali police station area and Mohammad Faisal of the Maharajganj police station area, the DBBL gun licence of Ashraf Juma alias Jamo of the Bardah police station area, and the SBBL gun licence of Jiledar Yadav of the Nizamabad police station area. In the case of the revolver licence of Asahad alias Chunnu Sheikh of the Phulpur police station area, the court noted that the licence holder had died and the licence was deemed automatically terminated. The court directed that necessary entries be made in the licence register and that the licence not be renewed. Instructions have been issued to the concerned arms office and police officials to ensure compliance with the orders.