Owners ordered to deposit licensed firearms with cops

Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar on Wednesday ordered all licensed firearm owners in Bengaluru to immediately deposit their weapons at their respective police station.

Following directions from the election commission, Kumar issued an order, directing that no firearm licence would be issued from the date of the announcement of the election schedule. The ban will remain in force until the election process gets over.

The ban will not apply to Central and state government agencies, banks and security agencies where firearms are used for the purpose of security. Class-I and gazetted officers of both Central and state governments need not deposit their firearms.

The top cop's order stated: "Individuals seeking exemption from depositing their weapons in exceptionally deserving cases can file their applications with reasons before DCPs of their jurisdiction on or before April 10 which will be forwarded to the screening committee, the office of the commissioner of police, Bengaluru city, with his remarks before April 12 (sic)."

The licence holders can take back their weapons on May 18.