Stricter Arms Licence, Ban On Music Glorifying Violence: Punjab Govt Issues Directive To Battle Gun Culture

Immediate restrictions have been ordered on bringing and brandishing weapons at public places, religious places and events such as marriages causing danger to human life or personal safety of others.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann

New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday addressed the gun-borne violence in the state and ordered restrictive measures to bring down the same. The Chief Minister said that all the arms licences issued so far will be thoroughly reviewed within the next three months, sources told ABP News. 

The Chief Minister also ordered that no new arms licences will be issued in the state unless the District Collector is personally satisfied that extraordinary circumstances exist for doing so. 

Immediate restrictions have also been ordered on bringing and brandishing weapons at public places, religious places and events such as marriages and parties causing danger to human life or personal safety of others. Such an act will be a punishable offence and an FIR will be lodged against the violator.

Punjab | Weapon licenses issued so far to be reviewed within next 3 months. No new license to be issued unless DC personally satisfied. Public display of weapons banned. Random checking to take place in days to come. Celebratory firing posing a threat to life will be punishable.

— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2022

To review the orders, random checking will be done in the coming days, the sources added. 

In order to put a check on the gun culture in the state, a ban will also be imposed on songs that promote gun culture or violence in the state. 

The state witnessed two major incidents — killing of Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri on November 4 and Dera Sacha Sauda follower Pardeep Singh on November 10.

In May this year, the state witnessed the death of famous Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala who was shot dead in Jawaharke village of Mansa district. Dozens of gangsters have been arrested by the police in connection with the case. 

 The National Investigation Agency recently interrogated pop singer Afsana Khan in connection with the case.

Two other Punjabi pop singers, Dalpreet Dhillo and Mankirat Aulak were also questioned by the federal anti-terror agency in the matter.