Private guards must register weapons with Delhi police

All employees of the private security agencies possessing arms with licences issued from authorities outside the city have been directed to get their weapons registered with the licensing authority of the Delhi police.

The agencies have been directed to ensure that all their employees possessing weapons should get themselves registered with the city police within 30 days, failing which strict action would be taken against them.

A circular to this effect, issued by licensing branch joint commissioner of police Shankar Dash said that registration of the weapons was mandatory under Section 62(3) of the Arms Rules. It said: “There is a mistaken notion that if the licenses have all-India validity, they need not comply with the above provision. Hence, there is no scope for any doubt or misgiving on this issue.”

The circular made it clear if any employee having any weapon with all-India permit fails to get himself registered with the Delhi police, its liability will be on his employer only. “Employees with arms must be registered with Delhi police promptly failing which the liability will be of the employer.”

The database of the city government’s home department, which is responsible for issuing licenses to the private security agencies, suggests there are about 70,000 security guards in Delhi. But there is no clear-cut data to suggest how many of these guards possess licensed weapons.

The Delhi police issue the licenses for weapons. Statistics show there are about 60,000 licensed weapons in the national capital. With growing incidents of crime, more and more people are reportedly applying for an arms license in Delhi.

A senior police officer said that one could purchase a weapon only after getting the license from the city police. When a person is authorised to buy the weapon, he or she is also given a time limit to purchase it. If one is unable to purchase it within a stipulated time period, his or her license is not reviewed.

One needs to pay just Rs 200 for pistols and revolvers to Rs 120 for a rifle. Application fee for an air rifle or .22 bore rifle is a mere Rs 80.