- Probe reveals misuse of licenses and cartridges
Bhopal: In response to alarming revelations that lakhs of cartridges issued to shooters in Madhya Pradesh were finding their way into the hands of criminals, the district administration has initiated major actions. Following a thorough examination of the records of 80 shooters, authorities are set to take action against 30 individuals, with three failing to disclose their criminal records.
The investigation uncovered numerous discrepancies, prompting serious measures against shooters not actively participating in the sport. Notably, Shahid Ahmed, a shooter linked to the Machhli family, had his gun license suspended due to a criminal case, resulting in the confiscation of his three firearms, including a .32-bore revolver, a 12-bore semi-automatic gun, and a 30.06 rifle.
Additionally, the report, prepared by officials including Bairagarh SDM Ravi Shankar Rai, recommends halving the cartridge quota for shooters. While international-level competitors may have quotas as high as one lakh, the investigation found that many do not utilize such quantities. Consequently, the committee has proposed a 50 percent reduction in these quotas.
Further findings from a four-day verification in August revealed that many shooters possessed original licenses for self-defense but later acquired additional weapons for sports competitions. Additionally, some shooters have not participated in competitions for extended periods yet still retain weapons and ammunition under the sports category, raising concerns about the proper usage of licenses and ammunition.
