National-level shooters wait for months to get arms licences in UP

ALIGARH: 31-year-old Umar Mohammad Hussain, who participated in the 59th National Shooting Championship (big bore) held at Kadarpur in Haryana, and 300mt rifle prone men ISSF Civilian Championship in 2016, has been waiting for months in Aligarh to get licences for his guns.
He is not alone in UP.
Some other certified “renowned shots” have faced disappointment in getting the licences despite the high court, Central and state governments putting no restrictions on issuing licences for the sport.
The UP State Rifle Association, which works closely with National Rifle Association of India, has started a fact-finding mission in the state to know the grievances of the 200 recognised shooters in the state.
Based on these findings, the office bearers will go ahead and meet the state government and if nothing works out they will move the high court.
One becomes a renowned shot after playing in a national championship and attaining Mandatory Qualifying Score (MQS), which is different for each event.
If the renowned shots do not get the licences before the beginning of the next nationals, they will have to go through the same drill of attaining the score to become the renowned shot certified by the National Rifle Association of India.
The licence gives them import permit for ammunition.
According to the law, there is a ban on general issue of arms licence . The authorities in the district administration said that only under three categories it is processed -- “people whose life is in danger; in succession and renowned shots.”
The verification needs to be done in three months.
Aligarh DM Rajmani Yadav said, “There is no compromise on this -- not till the file is complete. It is about possession of arms.”
The verification and inquiries are done in two parts – “revenue” and “criminal”.
The candidate is checked on many grounds, if he has dues pending or loans to pay, which is cleared in revenue department and criminal department inquiry is done by police at local police station, Circle Officer, SP, SSP, LIU officials and district crime record bureau.
The file goes to ACM, City Magistrate, ADM City, DM. “Sometimes following it up at every stage becomes a pain,” said another shooter in UP.