JOIN USSenior officers in the City Armed Reserve said incompetent handling of fire arms by licence holders had resulted in a few deaths. In most cases, victims were small time criminals. Licensed arms holders cannot use their weapons to kill, the officers made it clear. The weapon should be used for self-defence and protection of one’s property.
Training was essential for gun owners as they may not have been trained in using the weapons, or their skills may have rusted over a period of time, they said. Many owners of properties located on the City outskirts possess licensed weapons. They have grown sandalwood trees in their compounds and farm houses.
“The idea of training those who obtained licenses long back and staying in the City outskirts has been on our minds for quite some time now. The training will make them feel more secure and confident. We will begin the training in October,” Joint Commissioner police (Crime) Alok Kumar told Deccan Herald.
Deaths occurring due to false usage can be prevented if the owners are regularly trained, stress DCP (South East) B N S Reddy.
There have been a few incidents where owners shot dead dacoits in the past. A house owner used his double barrelled gun and killed a thief at Doddabegur in 1989. The owner and his wife buried the body fearing the consequences. The incident came to light two days later and the police rewarded the couple.
Around the same time at Bidiruguppe in Attibele, another house owner shot at a person of a three-member gang. Though the trio fled, body of the injured was found the next day. The police were shocked when they established the identity. It was a notorious criminal, Chouta Prasad, who was involved in Simhachalam temple dacoity in Andhra Pradesh. The police rewarded the owner.
Air Force sentries Surendra Singh and Jacob opened fire and injured a man who was part of a three-member gang that was felling the tree in IAF premises in Gangammanagudi on the early morning of July 3, 2009.
Recently, a bar owner fired in the air to disperse miscreants who allegedly assaulted his brother. The miscreants had assaulted him as he refused them to give drinks since they had come after the curfew time.
In these two incidents, they handled the weapons properly and ensured no deaths took place.