Wild wild west

Rowdy elements in Bengaluru West are feeling the heat. Ever since Sanjeev M Patil, IPS, took charge as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Division), he has instructed his team to book rowdy elements under the Arms Act and send them to jail. Eighteen police stations belonging to three police sub-divisions – Chickpete, Kengeri Gate and Vijaynagar – fall under this division.

“Over the past couple of months, we have booked around 30 cases under Arms Act and have arrested over 100 antisocial elements across our three police sub-divisions,” said Sanjeev M Patil.

If convicted under the Arms Act, the offence shall be punishable with imprisonment for not less than three years but which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to a fine.

Arms Act, 1959
In the Act, the word “arms” means articles of any description designed or adapted as weapons for offences or defence, and include firearms, sharp-edged and other deadly weapons, and parts of, and machinery for manufacturing arms, but does not include articles designed solely for domestic or agricultural uses such as a lathi or an ordinary walking stick and weapons incapable of being used otherwise than as toys or of being converted into serviceable weapons.



Nanjunde Gowda K, ACP Vijayanagar sub-division, said, “Earlier, we used to book them under IPC section 399 which is making preparation of dacoity and 402 - assembling for the purpose of committing dacoity. These criminals roam around in groups of more than four carrying lethal weapons like machetes, longs, daggers, and sometimes chilli powder. Now, we have started booking them under appropriate sections of the Arms Act along with sections 399 and 402. If they roam alone or are less than four in number, then they are being booked only under Arms Act.” Punishment for making preparation for committing dacoity, is rigorous imprisonment for three years which may extend to ten years, plus a fine.

This move is meant to instill confidence in the residents of Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Annapurneshwari Nagar and Kengeri, even as activities of rowdies are on the rise.
UD Krishnakumar, ACP Kengeri Gate subdivision said that since Patil’s instructions, his sub-division has registered 11 cases under the Arms Act and has arrested around 36 rowdy elements.



However, one senior police officer, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “Though a few notorious rowdy elements were booked recently under the Arms Act in Chandra Layout and sent to jail, a local court granted them bail in two to three days without even calling for objections.”

Lawyer’s views
Shaji T Verghese, a senior lawyer, told Bangalore Mirror the Arms (Amendment) Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha in 2019 and was scheduled to be passed in the winter session. The Bill amends the Arms Act 1959 which deals with regulation of arms in the country. The Act defines arms to include firearms, swords, and anti-aircraft missiles. “This explains why police were not booking culprits under the Arms Act earlier. Most cases would be dismissed if the court did not find any evidence to prove that the rowdies were assembling for preparation of dacoity,” says Shaji T Verghese. “These days, police are using this Act (The Arms Act) for extorting money from rowdy elements too,” he added.

Taking a cue from the West division, other stations are following suit.