Licensed firearms under scrutiny after two Hyderabad incidents

Two recent Hyderabad-area incidents involving licensed firearms have raised questions over arms licence monitoring. The cases highlight concerns about weapon misuse, third-party access, verification of applicants and renewals, while allegations involving intermediaries and officials underline the need for closer scrutiny.

HYDERABAD: A licensed firearm is meant to be a tightly regulated possession. Yet two recent incidents — a licensed rifle allegedly being used to hunt a black buck and another firearm being handed over to a relative who fired three rounds during a wedding celebration — have brought the system of granting, renewing and monitoring arms licenses under scrutiny.

In the black buck case detected on September 28, Future City police, in coordination with the Forest Department, apprehended nine persons and seized about 13 kg of suspected black buck meat, a licensed .315 rifle fitted with a telescopic sight and silencer and 19 rounds of ammunition. The police investigation revealed that the group had travelled from Hyderabad to the Makthal area near Narayanpet, where the animal was allegedly hunted using the rifle. The firearm was reportedly obtained under the sports/shooting category.

---

The second case concerns a wedding celebration in which Amer Bin Sayeed allegedly fired three rounds into the air using the licensed .32 revolver of his cousin, Valeed Hussain. Chandrayangutta police seized the revolver, ammunition and licence documents and booked both men under the Arms Act. Police said the weapon had been used by a person other than the licence holder.

The recurrence is significant. Hyderabad has witnessed earlier instances of licensed firearms being used for celebratory firing, followed by police cases. Yet similar incidents continue to surface, raising questions about whether action against individual offenders is being accompanied by effective preventive monitoring of licence holders and their weapons.

The issue goes beyond the two cases. The licensing process needs closer scrutiny of an applicant’s background, the reason for seeking a firearm, previous handling of weapons, and eligibility at the time of renewal. Allegations that brokers help people obtain and renew licences, and that some officials accept money to clear applications, have surfaced repeatedly.

The police also need to ensure that other details given by applicants are genuine, including their business activities and, where required, the source of funds. Regular verification of licence holders, surprise checks of weapons and ammunition, and quick action, including suspension of licenses, when a weapon is misused, can improve monitoring, people feel.

Social workers have also alleged that some people with large real-estate interests fund firearm licences for associates or relatives as a status symbol. There are also allegations that people involved in unlawful activities help their associates obtain licences through intermediaries. These claims need to be properly verified.