Jalandhar: In a move aimed at checking the misuse of the licensed weapons, the district administration has made it mandatory for the applicant, seeking fresh/ renewal of arms license in Jalandhar, to undergo a dope test.
Divulging the details, the Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar Varinder Kumar Sharma said that as per the directions of the state government it would be compulsory for every new applicant or somebody seeking renewal of his/ her weapon license to go for a dope test. He said that the primary aim was to check the misuse of the licensed weapon by the drug addicts thereby ensuring the safety and security of the people. Sharma said that dope test would be conducted by the Health authorities in the district, for which necessary directions have been issued to them.
The Deputy Commissioner said that the dope test would ensure that the applicant was not consuming any sort of psychotropic drug that could prove fatal to society. He said that after clearing the dope test the new applicant or anyone who has filed application for renewal would be given the license. Sharma said that the relevant directions of the Home department regarding this have been passed on the every concerned department.
The Deputy Commissioner said that the necessary provisions regarding this have already been made in Arms Act 1959 and rules 2016. He said that as per this for getting fresh or renewal of arms license the form S-3 has to be duly certified by the Health authorities after conducting the dope test of the applicant.
It may be recalled that Punjab has the highest number of arms license holders in the country. Being a border state, which has already suffered a lot due to turbulent days of terrorism, checking licit and illicit firearms within Punjab has became a priority area for the state government to ensure peace, harmony and law and order for the citizens.