Furore over arms licences on poll eve

Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Sept 25: The poll code of conduct came into effect immediately after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for conduct of Assembly polls in three States, including Arunachal Pradesh, on August 31 last. Exactly a week before that, the State Government had approved issuance of 85 gun licences on request of three persons of a single district — two sitting MLAs and a former minister.

Documents available with The Sentinel revealed that on August 24 last the Home Deputy Secretary had conveyed the Kurung Kumey district administration of the Government’s approval to issue arms license under additional special quota on request from Education Minister Tatar Kipa, sitting MLA Lokam Tassar and former minister Kahfa Bengia.

While Kipa is recontesting from Nyapin Assembly constituency, Tassar and Bengia are facing each other from Koloriang Assembly constituency.

As per the approval order, issued separately, 50 arms licenses were allotted to Kipa, 25 to Bengia and 10 to Tassar. While the approval to Kipa and Bengia was given on August 24, the same was given to Tassar on July 27.

The revelation has evoked unprecedented criticism from various sections, including high-ranking government officials who do not want to be named.

The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), while claiming to be partners with the ruling Congress in the State, severely criticized the move by the Government to approve issuance of such a large number of arms licenses to three leaders right on the eve of Assembly polls. State AITC president Kito Sora today said such permission to procure arms before the elections, especially granted to two candidates contesting against each other, may lead to an arms race and create a volatile situation during the polls. Accepting that the Model Code of Conduct prohibits procession of arms during the elections and that the DEOs have directed all residents to surrender their arms with the authorities, Sora, however, expressed doubt on its hundred per cent implementation as many people in remote places may not surrender their arms.

Sora has lodged a written complaint with the State Chief Secretary against the government’s approval order and demanded to know the reasons behind the issuance of surplus number of arms licenses under special quota.

Bamang Tala from Sangram has also submitted a representation to the Chief Secretary questioning the necessity to approve 50 arms licenses to Tatar Kipa. He alleged that the procured licenses are being randomly distributed to the villagers in the run-up to the Assembly polls. Kurung Kumey, which has already witnessed poll-related violence that injured election officials and police personnel recently at Palin, has always been sensitive, particularly during election times. THE SENTINEL