As many as 517 persons have been booked for failing to deposit their licensed firearms at police stations in Rohru and Chirgaon areas of Shimla district during the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the ongoing Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) elections. Of the total violators, 472 belong to Rohru region while 45 are from Chirgaon.
The police said directions had been issued to all licensed weapon holders to deposit their firearms at the nearest police station as a precautionary measure during the elections. To ensure compliance, special drives were conducted by police teams in both regions. Mobile collection facilities were also arranged for residents living in remote areas. Besides this, awareness campaigns were carried out through phone calls and social media platforms.
According to police officials, nearly 90 per cent of the licensed weapon holders complied with the directions. However, several persons failed to deposit their firearms despite repeated instructions, thereby violating the orders issued during the MCC period.
Shimla SSP Gaurav Singh said stern action had been initiated against the violators. He said cases under Section 223 (b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act, 1959, have been registered and further investigation is underway.
