Surrender Unlicensed Guns by Nov 1 or Face Legal Action: Shivakumar

BENGALURU, Sept 11 : Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday announced a one-time opportunity for people living near forest areas to surrender unlicensed firearms by November 1, assuring that those with genuine security concerns could subsequently apply for legal licences.

Addressing reporters along with Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Mr Shivakumar said residents possessing unauthorised firearms for self-protection would be given one month to voluntarily surrender the weapons.

The Chief Minister said the Forest and Police departments would hold a joint meeting on the issue and assured that genuine security requirements would be considered while issuing licences to eligible applicants.

“I do not want any unlicensed weapons to be kept in their houses,” Mr Shivakumar said, appealing to people possessing such firearms to surrender them before the deadline.

Referring to a similar drive undertaken during the tenure of former Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde, when thousands of unlicensed guns were surrendered, he warned that those found retaining illegal firearms after November 1 would face serious legal action.

Mr Shivakumar said the government would track unauthorised firearms and that information networks in villages would help identify cases of illegal possession.

The move comes amid concerns over unauthorised firearms in forest-border areas, where residents often cite self-defence as the reason for possessing guns.

The Chief Minister said the government’s objective was to bring such weapons within the legal framework while preventing their continued unauthorised possession.