Several licence holders in central zone deposit their weapons with the police

Several arms licence holders in the central zone have deposited their weapons to the police in view of the Assembly election next month. The weapons have been deposited to the respective jurisdictional police station / licensed armoury barring those identified under the exempted categories.

Police sources said they had a complete list of persons holding arms with licence in the respective districts. The surrender of weapons began to take place anticipating the upcoming Assembly election and in the run up to the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct that came into force all over the State on Sunday evening.

In Tiruchi City Police limits, the total number of licensed arms holders are around 270. Barring those who have been identified under the exempted categories, the remaining arms licence holders have deposited their respective weapons to the jurisdictional police station concerned in Tiruchi City Police limits, said police sources.

The Tiruchi City Police, headed by the Commissioner of Police, in the rank of Inspector- General of Police consists of 14 police stations. There are arms licence holders in the vast limits of the Tiruchi Rural Police which is headed by the Superintendent of Police. 

The Tiruchi District Election Officer and the District Collector V. Saravanan in a press release on Sunday asked licenced arms holders in Tiruchi Rural and City limits to deposit their weapons within seven days either to the jurisdictional police station concerned or in the licenced armoury and obtain an acknowledgement receipt in view of the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct barring those who have been exempted by the Screening Committee.

In Mayiladuthurai district, the number of those holding arms licences are 129. Of them, 95 licence holders have deposited their weapons to the jurisdictional police station while four others have deposited in the armoury. The remaining licence holders have submitted petitions to the Screening Committee seeking exemption. 

The sources said the screening committee headed by District Collector and the Superintendent of Police as the member in the district decide those under the exempted categories.  Such exempted categories includes those providing security for banks and cash guards.

In Thanjavur district, the number of arms licence holders is 572 of which 500 of them have deposited in the respective jurisdictional police station, the sources said. The deposited weapons would be returned to the respective owners after the withdrawal of the Model Code of Conduct.