In a major pre-election security drive, the Mumbai Police have successfully collected nearly 680 licensed firearms from holders across the city. This initiative is a standard procedure aimed at ensuring peaceful and violence-free elections.
Standard Protocol for Election Security
An officer explained that the process begins as soon as the election dates are announced. Each zone's Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) initiates a thorough review of the list of individuals holding firearm licenses within their jurisdiction. A screening committee, headed by the zonal DCP, scrutinizes these records.
The committee carefully studies the backgrounds of license holders. While sportspersons and security agency personnel are generally exempted, others are evaluated based on their history. The focus is on identifying individuals with past criminal records or any indicators suggesting they could potentially disrupt law and order.
A curated list of such persons is then forwarded to a higher-level screening committee led by the Police Commissioner for final approval. Once approved, these individuals are formally notified to deposit their firearms at their local police stations. This entire process is designed to be completed before the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) officially comes into force.
One FIR Registered for Non-Compliance
While the vast majority have complied with the orders, the police have taken strict action in a case of defiance. In the central suburbs earlier this week, a licensed firearm holder who did not comply with the deposit notice faced legal consequences, leading to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against him.
On average, each of Mumbai's 12 police zones has between 300 and 500 licensed firearm holders. From this pool, authorities typically shortlist between 40 to 70 persons per zone who are required to surrender their weapons for the election period.
Safekeeping and Broader Security Measures
The deposited firearms are stored securely at the respective police stations. The weapons are returned to their owners only after the Model Code of Conduct is lifted following the conclusion of the electoral process. In exceptional cases, such as when the license holder is abroad, the zonal DCP may consider the circumstances and make appropriate exceptions.
Beyond managing licensed weapons, the police are also conducting parallel drives to track and seize illegal arms. Additionally, they are taking steps to extern known anti-social elements from the city limits. These comprehensive measures form a multi-layered strategy to guarantee smooth and incident-free elections in the financial capital.
