Report on illegal weapons triggers concern about crime

Ludhiana: The latest report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) puts the spotlight on influx of illegal weapons into the city and its implications on crime rate.
In 2021, the city recorded the highest number of Arms Act cases registered in the past four years, said the report. Police authorities said this showed how serious they were in checking illegal weapons.

According to the latest NCRB report, Ludhiana CP registered 32 cases under the Arms Act in 2021. This marked a 45.45% increase since 2020, when 22 such cases were reported.
According to the NCRB report, 30 cases were related to illegal/unlicensed weapons while two were related to other weapons.
Last year’s figure placed Ludhiana CP at number two position in Punjab in Arms Act cases.
Amritsar rural was at top spot with 38 such cases, SAS Nagar had 30 cases and Pathankot had the lowest of one case. In 2020 and 2019 also, Ludhiana was at number two spot.
SAS Nagar, with 30 cases of illegal arms, shared the number two position with Ludhiana. Amritsar rural was at the top with 38 cases in 2021.
Data of previous years shows that Arms Act cases in Ludhiana CP were the highest (49) in 2014; 37 in 2015; 45 in 2016; 35 in 2017; 20 in 2019 and 32 in 2021.
Residents feel that the police must check the influx of illegal weapons to ensure better law and order in the city.
“If the police manages to stop the influx of illegal weapons by intensifying screening on the state boundaries, it will help them check crime rate. Police should also conduct extensive checking at the bus stand and railway station,” suggested Narinder Singh Masson, a city-based social activist and educationist. He added that there have been instances of use of licensed weapons and police should ensure that these are not misused.
Joint commissioner of police (rural), Ravcharan Brar said that more cases of Arms Act projects the performance of Ludhiana police and its strict approach on this front.
He added that cases under the Arms Act were registered for possession and use of licensed weapons as well as for illegal weapons.