RECIPE FOR DISASTER: Once a firearm licence is issued, its further use is not monitored. — A file Photo: A. ROY CHOWDHURY

HYDERABAD: From craze for one-upmanship to outsiders' involvement in student clashes, there are many angles to the shooting incident on the Deccan Engineering College campus.

Of all, failure of the licensed firearm holder to keep the weapon in safe custody is the more serious one.

Though the shootout was the first-ever such incident on the premises of educational institutions in recent past, misuse of licensed weapons is not a new aspect and is posing a serious threat to law and order situation.

There being different levels of authority to issue firearm licences, casual ways of licence renewal and failure to assess the need if a person really requires a weapon are leading to this dangerous trend.

Surprisingly, police higher-ups have not yet cracked the whip to check this menace. One Yasar Arafat of Banjara Hills has allegedly shot dead a wild animal in a forest at Nagpur of Maharashtra a few months ago with his licensed weapon. A youngster killed himself allegedly using the service revolver of his father — a police Inspector — at Narayanguda a couple of years ago.

Recently, hotelier Azeemuddin Quadri was charged with threatening a family with his licensed weapon at Kushaiguda.

The list goes on

The list is endless. Why are the police failing to control this trend?

Police officials say lack of data about licensed weapons is the basic flaw. No comprehensive database of weapon licenses had been prepared so far.

In the State capital, Commissioners of Hyderabad and Cyberabad police grant licences and the data is available at the police station concerned.

But, details of those granted by the Home Department (HD) are not passed onto the local police stations.

This often is leading to confusion. Firearm licences are renewed at regular intervals but the casual manner in which station house officers (SHOs) are clearing the files is also giving scope to misuse of weapons.

No parameters?

If a person is issued licence 15 years ago on some reason, the police officer does not inquire whether he or she still needs a weapon. Parameters like the age of the licence holder and his or her capacity to handle the weapon are also not being taken into serious consideration.

Punishment part

Punishment under law for misuse of licensed weapons is also not stringent. In the engineering college case, the Habeebnagar police registered a case under Section 30 of the Indian Arms Act against accused person Umeedullah Khan's father Kaleemullah Khan whose licensed .32 revolver was used in the firing.

Convict will be sentenced to a maximum of three months or imposed Rs. 500 fine or both under this section.

The question is whether this punishment will act as a deterrent in the backdrop of increasing number of such shooting incidents.

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