All the district magistrates of the respective districts in Manipur on Saturday issued orders directing the licensed holders of arms to deposit their licensed arms at the nearest concerned police stations to ensure that no untoward/unwanted incidents occur during the conduct of the elections.
The move came with the announcement of the election schedule for holding the 18th General Elections to the Lok Sabha, 2024 by the Election Commission of India and the Model Code of Conduct coming into force with immediate effect.
The order issued by Thoubal district magistrate A Subhas Singh stated that the prevailing law & order situation in the Thoubal District has been reviewed and examined minutely especially in view of the 18th General Election to Lok Sabha, 2024.
There are sufficient reasons /grounds for passing an appropriate order thereby directing the licensed holders of arms to deposit their licensed arms at the nearest concerned police stations to ensure that no untoward/unwanted incidents occur during the conduct of the elections, it stated.
It is considered necessary to withdraw all the licensed arms in the jurisdiction of Thoubal District and keep in the safe custody of such police stations having the jurisdiction where the residence of a licensee is located in view of the 18th General Election to Lok Sabha, 2024, it mentioned.
In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 21(1) of the Arms Act, 1959, it is ordered that all such licensees of Thoubal District shall deposit their licensed arms to the concerned nearest Police Stations by March 23, falling which their licensed arms & ammunitions will be confiscated by the District police Administration, Thoubal District and until further order with a view to maintain law and order and to ensure peaceful conduct of the election.
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Further, issue of fresh arms licenses as well as process of application of arms license has been banned with the announcement of Poll Schedule for the 18th General Election to Lok Sabha, 2024 by the Election Commission of India, it added.
Any individual who desires to appeal against this order may submit his/her written justification for retaining his/her licensed arms to the undersigned by March 20 during office hours, it mentioned.
The order issued by the district magistrate, Kangpokpi Mahesh Chaudhari stated that all the Officers in-Charge of the Police Stations functioning within the revenue jurisdiction of Kangpokpi District shall make detailed and individual assessment and review of all Licence holders and all the Arms License holders shall deposit their weapons with the nearest Police Station immediately.
In case, if the individual License holder fails to deposit his/her arms, the Officer in-Charge concerned shall impound it, it stated. The Officer in-Charge shall furnish a detailed report on such deposit and seizure to the undersigned by maintaining proper record, it added. And
The order will not be applicable to those who are entitled to display weapons by long standing law, custom and usage, to those Nationalised/Private Banks, where arms are necessary to safeguard cash chest and also to those sports persons who are registered with National Rifle Association, it mentioned.
However, individual exemption order will have to be obtained immediately, it added.
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The order was issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 17 of the Arms Act, 1959. Under the order possession and carrying of fire arms of any kind by Arms License holders within the revenue jurisdiction of Kangpokpi District is also prohibited with immediate effect and till the process of elections is completed.
The Superintendent of Police, Kangpokpi is to instruct the Officers in-Charge of all Police Stations functioning within the revenue jurisdiction of Kangpokpi District for compliance of this order, and also to make arrangement for safe and secure deposit of the licensed arms and ammunitions, it added.
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