JAMMU, Dec 7: Authorities sealed a gun shop on Saturday for failing to renew its trade license, while also setting a one-week deadline for firearms license holders to surrender any excess weapons. The shop owner, Amarnath Bhargav, located in the Shiv Nagar area, stated that he was not given any prior notice by the district administration before the shop was sealed. He asserted, “I applied for the license renewal in a timely manner and met all necessary requirements months ago, yet they sealed my shop without notifying me.” Bhargav, who has operated the shop for 45 years, is requesting an investigation into the delay in renewing his license.
Meanwhile, Jammu’s District Magistrate, Sachin Kumar Vaishya, issued a directive for all firearms license holders in the district to adhere to the Arms (Amendment) Act 2019. Under this act, individuals are prohibited from possessing more than two firearms. Those with over two must surrender their additional weapons within a week, as mandated by the official.
“License holders are required to deposit any excess firearms at the nearest police station or authorized unit armory, particularly for members of the Union Armed Forces,” the order stated. “Upon surrendering, they must ensure their licenses are properly endorsed to avoid cancellation and further legal repercussions under the Arms Act.” It also noted that failure to comply will result in immediate license cancellation and strict actions against violators.
