60,000 Delhiites have licence for guns, 6 more get it every day

While 130 people obtained license for firearms in January, the number increased to 147 in February and to 191 in March. The police do not have the figures for April.

Parked outside the licensing department at the police headquarters at ITO is a string of cars. Cellphone-wielding businessmen wait for their turn to arm themselves.

“Sir, when will we get a license?,” they ask. “Please do it at the earliest. I am in a hurry,” they say. According to the licensing officers, most of the applicants for firearms are wealthy businessmen from south Delhi. DCP (Licensing) S. Nithianand says: “There has been a rise (in number of licences). But how can you blame me? I have taken over office a week ago. You should ask my predecessors.”

In fact, the Licensing Department did not have a permanent DCP for the past one year. Heads of other departments looked into the functioning of this section from time to time.

The process of obtaining a license is a lengthy one. To apply for a firearms license, one has to furnish details of his lifestyle and occupation and the reason he needs a weapon.

Both the Station House Officer and the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the concerned district should be satisfied that the applicant has a genuine need for the weapon — either he faces a threat to life or holds an important post in public life.

The DCP (Licensing) should also be satisfied that the applicant needs the weapon and knows how to use it. Plus, the applicant should have no criminal record.

DCP Nithianand says following the rise in the number of licensed firearm holders, they will now emphasis on the interviews of the applicants.