Madras HC seeks report from TN govt on illegal guns

Madras High Court on Monday voiced concern that gun culture was finding its way into Tamil Nadu and sought a report from state government on steps taken to control trend.

A bench of Justices N Kirubakaran and V M Velumani, hearing a related matter through virtual hearing, said country was facing a lot of threats t only from outside but also from inside with Naxalites, ULFA and ISIS were waging war using illegal weapons.

Impleading suo motu (on its own) state Director General of Police, home secretary and city police commissioner as party respondents, it directed m to file a detailed report on steps taken to prevent illegal guns.

Posing a set of questions, bench sought details on number of people detained under Goondas Act for committing offences like dacoity, robbery and or heius crimes using illegal firearms and number of people arrested for selling m.

Seeking information on number of gun licenses granted in state, court directed m to file report in two weeks.

It said such unlicensed guns were supplied from states, including Jharkhand and Bihar, and goondas and contract killers were getting access to m and added re were also media reports about individuals, criminals and politicians using unlawful firearms.

court also said Police were issuing gun licences indiscriminately to applicants without even verifying ir antecedents.

If this gun culture is t contained and dealt with an iron hand, people's life will t be safe, it said.

When state public prosecutor A Natarajan said he will definitely take up issue to state government, bench said such incidents had been going for years and it was time for taking steps to bring m under control.