Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 5: The State Government has issued over 2.2 lakh gun licenses in the State during past six years with maximum issued in Kishtwar district of Jammu province.
In reply to a question of MLA Ajay Nanda, Home Department has said that during past six years 2,20,628 arms licenses were issued to civilians, Army and security personnel by various district magistrates in the State.
“However, in view of the security considerations, it may not be feasible to disclose the names of these licensees”, the department said.
Home Department has passed on the guidelines issued by the Union Home Ministry regarding the issuance of the licenses and their renewal to the district magistrates across the State.
District Magistrates have been asked to strictly issue the licenses in accordance with the provisions of Arms Act.
Maximum licenses of 54, 502 were issued in Kishtwar district, followed by Srinagar (51,118), Kulgam (22, 515), Udhampur (21, 450), Rajouri (15, 794) and Budgam (15, 263).