Ludhiana, October 25
Former General Secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) and Ex‑Chairman of the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board, Pawan Dewan has written to the Governor of Punjab as well as the Director General of Police, Punjab, seeking a comprehensive review of arms licences issued across the state in recent years amid growing concerns over the alleged misuse of licensed firearms in murders and other violent crimes. In his representations, Dewan has expressed serious concern over what he termed a disturbing trend wherein firearms licensed for personal security are increasingly being used in incidents of murder, domestic violence and personal rivalries.
Referring to the recent incident in Ludhiana in which the 34-year-old son of the owner of a popular eatery was allegedly shot dead at a birthday party using a licensed firearm, Dewan said the case was not an isolated occurrence but part of a larger pattern that warrants urgent intervention by the authorities. In his representations, while highlighting several incidents reported from different parts of Punjab over the past year, Dewan said the growing misuse of licensed firearms in murders and violent crimes warranted an urgent review of arms licences across the state.
While acknowledging that arms licences serve legitimate purposes and are granted to law-abiding citizens for their protection and security, Dewan stressed that such privileges must not remain in the hands of individuals involved in criminal activities. He called for a state-wide review of all arms licences issued in recent years to identify licence holders who may have subsequently been booked in criminal cases or developed criminal antecedents. Such a review, he said, would enable the authorities to initiate prompt action for suspension or cancellation of licences wherever warranted.
“Allowing individuals with criminal antecedents to continue holding arms licences poses a serious threat to public safety and undermines public confidence in the rule of law. Wherever necessary, immediate action should be taken to revoke such licences so that firearms do not become instruments of crime and violence,” Dewan asserted.
Dewan said that a prompt, comprehensive and rigorous review of arms licences will go a long way in curbing the criminal misuse of firearms, strengthening law and order and restoring a greater sense of security among the people of Punjab. He maintained that the privilege of possessing firearms carries a corresponding responsibility and that the State must ensure that licensed weapons remain only in the hands of responsible and law-abiding citizens. He urged the authorities to take immediate steps to review existing licences in the larger interest of public safety and social harmony.
Meanwhile, Dewan further urged the DGP to strengthen the existing system of arms licence renewal by introducing a more robust and rigorous review mechanism. He stressed that every renewal application should undergo comprehensive verification, including scrutiny of the licence holder’s criminal record, involvement in ongoing investigations and overall conduct, rather than being treated as a routine administrative exercise. “Such a mechanism would help ensure that firearms remain only in the hands of responsible and law-abiding citizens and would significantly reduce the possibility of licensed weapons being misused in criminal activities,” he concluded.
