By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 23: In pursuance to the directions coming from the Supreme Court emphasising the need to check the widespread use of unlicensed firearms posing a significant threat to the rule of law and public safety, the state government has issued an office memorandum laying out the action plan for compliance of all the respective deputy commissioners and district Superintendents of Police and other concerned government departments.
Chief Secretary DP Wahlang in the memorandum stated that a State Level Committee chaired by the chief secretary to oversee implementation has been constituted.
It also stated that organizing workshops and awareness programmes for district magistrates, police officers and arms dealers on the provisions of the Arms Act and Rules will be held from time to time, adding all licensing and renewal processes will be effectively shifted to the digital platform to ensure transparency and accountability for which Home (Police) Department will coordinate with NIC, Shillong.
The government will introduce a robust verification mechanism for applicants including criminal background and mental health checks.
A notification designating dedicated officers to inspect arms manufacturing units and workshops for compliance with safety and quality standards will be issued within this month and mandatory annual inspections of licensed arms factories will be conducted by the designated officer.
They will also undertake surprise inspections to detect and take action against unlicensed or illegal arms manufacturing units.
Special drives to identify and shut down unlicensed factories operating in violation of Section 5 of the Arms Act, 1959 will continue to be taken by the concerned authority regularly.
A state-level database to record information on arms manufacture, sale and transportation, integrated with national systems will be implemented shortly
by the Home (Police) Department in coordination with the NIC, Shillong.
The memorandum also stated that specialized anti-smuggling teams would be deployed at all entry points, including airports and inter-state borders. And advanced surveillance systems like CCTV and RFID scanners at key checkpoints will be installed.
Surveillance and frequent checks along the Indo-BangIa border with proper coordination between the BSF and police stations and work will be done with other central agencies like BSF, CRPF, and IB, to curb smuggling activities.
There will also be proper coordination between central intelligence and state agencies to prevent illegal sales and transportation through the state intelligence will be shared with neighbouring states to track cross-border smuggling networks.