PANAJI
The District Magistrate, North Goa, has issued an order prohibiting carrying arms in St Estevam village in view of a by-election scheduled in one of the wards of the village panchayat.
The order issued under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has directed the license holders to deposit the weapon with the Collectorate on or before June 27.
“The circumstances do not permit serving of the notices individually in time to all the licensed Arms Holders in the jurisdiction of Village Panchayat, St Estevam, Tiswadi, Goa... prohibit the carrying of all types of arms, firearms, ammunition, lethal weapons, in any public place, street, road squares, thoroughfare, by lanes, or in any open place in the entire jurisdiction of VP St Estevam with immediate effect until further orders,” reads the order by outgoing District Magistrate Mamu Hage.
The authorities will return weapons to its respective license holders five days from the counting, that is after the election process is over.
“...If any person has a real threat to his or her person/property, he/she should approach the Director General of Police for providing necessary security by the police, but under no circumstances will any person be allowed to carry his own personal firearm/s license or otherwise except with special permission from the undersigned,” she said.
The restriction does not apply to public servants/police/defence personnel and security personnel on duty/sports persons who are members of the national rifle association of India unless they are found indulging in violence or posing a threat to law and order.
Election in Ward V of the St Estevam VP will be held on July 3 while the counting will be held on the following day.
