After trend of low firearm related incidents in Mumbai, 2 cases in 2 months raise eyebrows

According to data obtained by the Mumbai Police, from 91 firearm related incidents in 1999 when the underworld was active, the city saw only five firearm related instances from 2020 to 2023 leading to six deaths. In 2016, five firearm related offences were registered, two offences each in 2017 and 2018 and one offence in 2019. In the current case, the firearm used by Noronha, who has three offences registered against him, was not issued by the Mumbai police nor was it an illegal firearm.

“When it comes to instances where firearms are used to commit a crime, it gives a perception of lawlessness. Over the past two decades, there has been a clamp down by the Mumbai Police and there have hardly been a few instances of firing. When it comes to obtaining firearm licenses in Mumbai, several issues are scrutinised, including the perception of threat.

Only when it is proved that the person faces a credible threat is a licence issued. In Mumbai, there are over 10,000 firearm licences issued over the years which have to be renewed, Here too if the person has a prior criminal record, we desist from providing a firearm licence,” an officer said.

When it comes to illegal firearms, especially country revolvers, the police have found that over the years, firearms are supplied from Madhya Pradesh instead of UP which a few decades ago was a prime supplier of firearms.

Thane City police recently started to audit the 4,000 odd firearm licenses issued over the years after MLA Ganpat Gaikwad used a licensed revolver to fire at a political opponent from point blank range. In the past, Thane was notorious for granting licenses to people from Mumbai and other areas who found it difficult to obtain a firearm licence.

“The firearm licence rules should be stringent across the state if we want such instances to stop. If any commissionerate is providing firearm licenses, the efforts of others come to a naught as people make a beeline to those commissionerates and are willing to pay for the same,” an officer said.