Punjab government issued 34,768 arms licences from 2019 to 2023

Chandigarh: The High Court has sought a response from the Punjab government on the issue of arms licenses in the state. A total of 34,768 arms licences have been issued between 2019 and 2023, the Punjab government told the High Court on Friday.

The high court termed it as a violation of the Arms Act and sought a response on the next date of hearing.

As many as 34,768 arms licences have been issued in Punjab from January 2019 to December 2023, the DGP told the high court on Friday.

Of these, 32,303 arms licences have been issued for self-defence, 77 for crop protection, 1,536 for commercial security, 95 for threats from gangsters or anti-social elements and 727 for other reasons.

Sources said that the High Court has reprimanded the Punjab government on this information given by the Punjab police.

“You issued thousands of licences from 2019 to 2023, but did not say whether these licences have been reviewed or checked from time to time,” the high court told the DGP. The high court said it was in direct violation of the Arms Act.