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Firearm violence, gun control and small arms
Illegal Arms Flowing into Bangladesh at 'Alarming' Rate
15 May 2013
Dhaka Tribune
The illegal arms trade has gone up alarmingly recently in the wake of ongoing pre-election political turmoil and triggered by high demands from local criminals and terrorists, intelligence departments of law enforcement agencies have reported.
Intelligence sources said arms are being smuggled into the country through at least 20 different points along the border, mostly from India.
According to sources, syndicates smuggle arms across the border taking advantage of... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Indian Gun Owner Shoots Son in Dispute
7 May 2013
Times of India
LUCKNOW - A man shot at his son in Alambagh area on Monday morning, reportedly after a heated argument. The injured youth was rushed to the Trauma Centre by family members for treatment and was under observation till late Monday night.
Surjeet Singh, an ex-defence personnel, was arrested by police and the licensed revolver with which he shot his 36-year-old son Jaspal recovered from his possession, said Shreekant Prasad, the sub-inspector who made the... (GunPolicy.org)
Nepal District Police Collect Over 200 Illegal Weapons in Amnesty
7 May 2013
Himalayan Times (Kathmandu)
ROLPA - District Police Office DPO, Rolpa has collected 227 illegal weapons so far from the district following the government's call to people owning illegal firearms to surrender them to police in exchange for a pardon.
According to DSP Saroj Paudel of DPO, the fire arms were collected from different parts of the district.
Of the collected guns, as many as 225 were loaded guns and two were handmade pistols.
Police thanked all the locals who had voluntarily submitted... (GunPolicy.org)
13 People Shot Dead Each Day in India says NGO
6 May 2013
Post Noon (Hyderabad)
Hardly any noise is made in India about increasing use of firearms among civilians and related violence. We tend to think that it is an issue that needs to be tackled in places like the United States, perhaps because of recurring incidents of mass murders. But not here, in the land of the non-violent freedom movement, we say. However, with a staggering 40 million civilians owning guns, second only to the United States, discourses, questions and debates on the topic... (GunPolicy.org)
80-Yr-Old Indian Engineer Arrested for Supplying Arms Parts to Gang
1 May 2013
DNA India (Mumbai)
An 80-year-old man from Dadar was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly supplying spare parts of imported weapons, arms and ammunition to a Uttar Pradesh-based gang. A joint team of the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad and Mumbai police also recovered spare parts of imported weapons and ammunition from his flat.
Senior inspector of Dadar police station Prakash Patil said that D'Souza was arrested from his fifth floor flat at Salvation Apartments in Agar Bazaar area.... (GunPolicy.org)
India's Anti-Terrorist Squad Busts Gun Smuggling Gang
19 April 2013
Pioneer (India)
LUCKNOW - Sleuths of the Anti-Terrorists Squad (ATS) arrested four persons and claimed to have busted a gang which is smuggling parts of arms from overseas and assembling them here to dispose it off later to hardened criminals at higher rates. They said to have recovered arms in large quantity besides equipments and tools used for assembling.
Giving the details of the above development here on Thursday afternoon, ADG (law and order) Arun Kumar, said that the ATS is... (GunPolicy.org)
Nepal Extends Illegal Arms Amnesty Programme
18 April 2013
Khabar South Asia
As Nepal gears up for fresh Constituent Assembly (CA) elections, the government has extended a campaign to recover illegal weapons that proliferated in the country during its decade-long insurgency.
In late February, the cabinet announced a one-month amnesty in which those possessing illegal small arms could surrender them to police or district officials without legal repercussions. Normally, the penalty for possession of illegal weapons is a five-year prison term and... (GunPolicy.org)
Nepal Police Concerned Over Rise in Illegal Guns, Crime in Valley
17 April 2013
Himalayan Times (Kathmandu)
KATHMANDU - Metropolitan Police Circle, Balaju, raided a rented house at Mitranagar, and rounded up four crime suspects with a cache of illegal weapons yesterday.
Acting on intelligence input, an MPC team backed by local armed police had cordoned off the house late at night before carrying out a thorough search in all rooms.
Officials informed that Yam Bahadur Thapa, 23, of Gorkha, his sister-in-law Alisha Gurung, 20, of Gorkha, Pankaj Malla, 19, of Banke and Rudra... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Seize Homemade Guns, Manufacturing Equipment in India
11 April 2013
Times of India
KANPUR - In a major haul, the city police with the arrest of two persons have recovered 15 country-made pistols and 12 semi-finished guns of separate bores, several live cartridges, 81 big and small barrels of 315 bore, several furnaces, welding machines and other equipment used in manufacturing firearms. The arrested men were running an organized racket of illegal arms sale.
The police said two persons were arrested near the Juhi 'dhaal' area of the city on Tuesday.... (GunPolicy.org)
India Police say Criminals Trying to Buy Guns From Students
8 April 2013
Times of India
CHENNAI - Police are worried over local criminals attempting to source guns from students from north India.
After several instances of students from Jharkhand, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh brandishing firearms and an engineering college student pistol-whipping a classmate and his friend in Maduravoyal on Thursday, police said they are keeping a close watch on students from outside Chennai.
Some students and former students from other cities have links with criminals in... (GunPolicy.org)
Jilted Lover Kills Indian Girl's Dad, Injures Mom
4 April 2013
Times of India
NAGPUR - A 49-year-old office superintendent with joint director of technical education was shot with a country made revolver and stabbed to death by his daughter's male friend at his residence in ShriHarinagar near Manewada Ring road on Wednesday. YogeshDakhode's wife Kusum was also assaulted a number of times. The perpetrator Anwar Khan, 28, who was once in a relationship with Dakhodes' daughter, wanted to kill the girl too but was overpowered by neighbours before... (GunPolicy.org)
China Says UN Arms Treaty Lacks Consensus
3 April 2013
South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
There is no consensus on an international arms trade treaty, major weapons exporter China said on Wednesday, after it abstained as the UN General Assembly passed the measure by 154 votes to three.
The only votes against the first treaty on the conventional arms trade were from Syria, North Korea and Iran.
The 23 countries abstaining included Russia and China, ranked respectively as the number two and five weapons exporters by the Stockholm International Peace Research... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Arms Smuggling Continues to Thrive in Indian City
2 April 2013
Times of India
ALLAHABAD - The recent seizure of some sophisticated pistols from an arm smuggler by the Special Task Force here has again brought to fore the thriving smuggling of arms in the region. Most of these firearms are being smuggled from Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal or manufactured in small illegal units running in the district.
The graph of arms seized in past three years also points towards this fact. From desi kattas (local arms) to sophisticated smuggled guns,... (GunPolicy.org)
Nepal Citizens Reluctant to Give Up Illegal, Unlicensed Guns in Amnesty
31 March 2013
República (Kathmandu)
RAUTAHAT - Even as the 35-days deadline given by District Police Office, Rautahat ended on Saturday, no one in the district handed over illegal arms in their possession to the police.
DPO, while issuing the deadline, had even told the locals that they would not face action if they submit illegal arms in their possession within the given deadline.
"We are aware that many locals possess illegal arms in the district but they are reluctant to hand them over to the... (GunPolicy.org)
India to Reject Arms Trade Treaty, Alleges Bias Against Arms Importers
28 March 2013
Times of India
NEW DELHI - New Delhi is set to reject a global arms trade treaty (ATT) since the agreement is heavily loaded against weapons-importing countries like India, and let exporting nations like the US and China call the shots. The treaty, meant to regulate all transfers of conventional arms around the world, is likely to be passed by the UN General Assembly next week. India's inability to establish an indigenous defence production industry may now become a strategic... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Indian Gun Owner Kills Wife, Neighbour and Self in Spree
27 March 2013
Times of India
KANPUR - An enraged man went on a shooting spree gunning down a teenage youth in the neighbourhood and critically injuring his wife, before killing himself on Tuesday. The gruesome incident took place at Muradpur Nagariya village under the limits of Bhogaon police station in Mainpuri district.
"32-year-old, Prem Narain apparently first opened fire from his licensed firearm at his wife, Radha (28), then his neighbour, Vishal (18) and later killed himself," said circle... (GunPolicy.org)
Shootings on the Rise in Pakistan's Business Hub
25 March 2013
BBC News
"Have you absolutely lost your mind?" That was my mother's predictable response.
"People are trying to get out of this god-forsaken city," she said, "and you are planning to come back!"
Her fears aren't entirely exaggerated. Facts speak for themselves: last year was the bloodiest year for Karachi in nearly two decades, with about 2,000 people killed in drive-by shootings, bombings, and revenge attacks.
That is based on reported figures. A lot of threats, extortion... (GunPolicy.org)
Africa,Americas,Asia,Europe,Oceania,United States,Russia,Italy,Germany,Brazil,Switzerland,Israel,Austria,South Korea,Belgium,Spain,Turkey,Norway,Canada,United Kingdom,Australia,France,Pakistan,Yemen,Honduras,El Salvador,Jamaica
Fact and Figures: Global Trade in Small Arms
18 March 2013
al Jazeera
Diplomats from around the world have gathered at the UN for talks on an international arms trade treaty, in an effort to stop the sale of illegal conventional arms.
Similar talks held last July failed, mainly due to the objections of the US and Russia, the world's two largest arms exporters.
Al Jazeera has compiled a list of facts related to the global production and trading of small arms.
1. Authorised international transfers of small arms, light weapons, their... (GunPolicy.org)
India,Egypt,Syria,Russia,United States,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa
Urgent Call for Tighter Rules on International Arms Trade - Oxfam
12 March 2013
Oxfam International (Oxford), Media release
Draft Arms Trade Treaty text littered with loopholes which need fixing urgently to save lives
More than 325,000 people are estimated to have lost their lives through armed violence since negotiations for a treaty to regulate the global arms trade for the first time ground to a halt in July last year, say Oxfam and Saferworld, part of the Control Arms Coalition.
The Control Arms Coalition calls on world leaders to urgently adopt robust rules on international transfers... (GunPolicy.org)
Easily Available Home-made Handguns, 1st Choice of Criminals in Nepal
11 March 2013
Kantipur (Nepal)
PARSA - An 18-year-old boy brandished a pistol to threaten one of his friends over a minor dispute while playing snooker at Maisthan in Birgunj last Thursday.
Fortunately, the situation was brought under control as police reached the incident site immediately. The boy, however, managed to flee the scene upon seeing the police personnel.
On August 24, 2012, Rama Shankar Mandal, general secretary of the Madhesi Factory Workers' Forum, was shot dead by an unidentified... (GunPolicy.org)
Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,Nepal
Nepal Decides to Endorse UN Small Arms Treaty
9 March 2013
Xinhua
KATHMANDU - With the objective of controlling the illegal trade of small arms like pistol, Nepal has decided to endorse the UN small arms convention which is being discussed among the UN members at present.
"Nepal supports the bid to regulate and control the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons," the Kathmandu Post quoted a government official, as saying, on Saturday.
"It is of prime importance that the small arms do not reach the non-state actors, who may... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns Easily Available in Nepal, Especially Among Youth
6 March 2013
República (Kathmandu)
DHANGADHI - Authorities have expressed concerns over the spike in criminal activities resulting from the increased possession of small arms among youths in Kailali district. Easy availability of weapons across the border (in India) and the weapons left lying around from the insurgency period have been blamed for the problem.
"Nowadays the Dhangadhi town has been witnessing increasing number of criminal activities and small arms have been used in many of such... (GunPolicy.org)
Nepal Govt Asks Citizens to Submit Illegal Guns
2 March 2013
Himalayan Times (Kathmandu)
KATHMANDU - The Ministry of Home Affairs today appealed to all concerned to submit all types of weapons, both small and large, to the concerned District Administration Office, District Police Office or the nearest police unit by March 28, failing which legal action under the Arms and Ammunition Act-1963 would be initiated.
The move follows the growing possession and use of unlicenced weapons, small arms in particular, among the persons with criminal mindset to disturb... (GunPolicy.org)
Number of Illegally Held Guns Leads to Month Amnesty in Nepal
2 March 2013
Himalayan Times (Kathmandu)
KATHMANDU - The Ministry of Home Affairs today appealed to all concerned to submit all types of weapons, both small and large, to the concerned District Administration Office, District Police Office or the nearest police unit by March 28, failing which legal action under the Arms and Ammunition Act-1963 would be initiated.
The move follows the growing possession and use of unlicenced weapons, small arms in particular, among the persons with criminal mindset to disturb... (GunPolicy.org)
Pakistan Passes New Gun Law But Critics Fear Poor Implementation
24 February 2013
International News (Karachi), Editorial
In an effort to limit arms proliferation the Sindh Assembly passed legislation on Thursday increasing the term of imprisonment for possession of an illegal weapon from three to 14 years. Pakistan is a country awash with guns, both legal and illegal, with the latter probably outnumbering the former. There are entire communities regarded as 'armed.' Politicians have been behind much of the perfectly legal proliferation of guns in our society as they have a 'quota' of... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Sells Arms To Sri Lanka's 'Brutal' Regime
18 February 2013
Belfast Telegraph
Britain is selling millions of pounds worth of arms and ammunition to Sri Lanka despite the country's dire human rights record.
Figures taken from the Government's own database show how the authorities in Colombo have gone on a buying spree of British small arms and weaponry worth at least £3m.
Some of the items sold to Sri Lanka include pistols, rifles, assault rifles, body armour and combat shotguns – despite the Foreign Office still classifying the South Asian... (GunPolicy.org)
India Police Arrest Alleged Gun Smugglers in Ongoing Crackdown
10 February 2013
Hindustan Times (Delhi)
NEW DELHI - Three gun runners, who were allegedly attempting to smuggle more than a dozen sophisticated firearms were caught 'red-handed' by the special cell, police said on Sunday. The firearms were to be sold to criminals operating in the NCR.
The trio was waylaid and nabbed from near the Anand Vihar-Ghazipur foot-over bridge around 5pm on Saturday, said Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, deputy commissioner of police (special cell). Their identities have been withheld due to the... (GunPolicy.org)
Myanmar Police Seize Drugs, 96 Guns on Indian Border
4 February 2013
Irrawaddy (Burma)
Burmese police seized around US $140,000 worth of pseudo-ephedrine-based cold and flu tablets and a large cache of weapons in Tamu, Sagaing Division, on Sunday, according to local sources and state-media reports.
"A couple has been detained for questioning and anti-narcotics forces are preparing to charge them with illegal possession of weapons and drug trafficking," an officer from the Tamu Police Station told The Irrawaddy on Monday.
Initial reports suggested that... (GunPolicy.org)
Russia,Afghanistan,Israel,Belgium,United States
How Video Games Fund Arms Manufacturers and Sell Guns
31 January 2013
EuroGamer
The American confectionery company Victoria Sweets claims to have invented the candy cigarette. A thin stick of chocolate, wrapped in edible paper and designed to impersonate a roll-up, it debuted in 1915 and soon became the accessory of choice for children keen to play grown-up. Hollywood star, GI Joe, team captain: the sweet gave kids the chance try out one of the vogue props of adulthood.
Within 20 years it was so popular that cigarette companies began to take... (GunPolicy.org)
Pakistan's Gun Makers Protest Election Ban, Blame Illegal Guns
30 January 2013
Express Tribune (Pakistan) / International Herald Tribune
PESHAWAR - A nationwide ban on the issuance of new small arms licences has hit manufacturing units hard, Peshawar's gunsmiths told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.
While talking to The Express Tribune, Siraj Afridi, the proprietor of City Arms, explained that locals do not purchase arms from Peshawar's gun shops, as they prefer indigenously-made arms from Darra Adam Khel. The 80 functional small arms manufacturing units operating in Peshawar rely solely on orders from... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Express Tribune (Pakistan) / International Herald Tribune
Czech Republic,Hungary,Côte d'Ivoire,Iran,Guinea,Niger,Russia,South Sudan,China,Uganda,Afghanistan,Nigeria,Kenya,Iraq,Congo (DRC)
Trail of Bullet Casings Leads From Africa's Wars Back to Iran
11 January 2013
New York Times
The first clues appeared in Kenya, Uganda and what is now South Sudan. A British arms researcher surveying ammunition used by government forces and civilian militias in 2006 found Kalashnikov rifle cartridges he had not seen before. The ammunition bore no factory code, suggesting that its manufacturer hoped to avoid detection.
Within two years other researchers were finding identical cartridges circulating through the ethnic violence in Darfur. Similar ammunition then... (GunPolicy.org)
England & Wales,Djibouti,Sri Lanka,Yemen,Somalia,European Union
British Authorities Question Legality, Security of 'Floating' Gun Armouries
10 January 2013
Guardian (UK)
Private security companies guarding ships against Somali pirates are increasingly storing their weapons on so-called "floating armouries" in international waters, to avoid arms smuggling laws when they dock in ports.
About 20 ships stocked with assault rifles and other small arms as well as ammunition, body armour and night vision goggles are scattered around the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, the EU naval force has confirmed.
The legal status of... (GunPolicy.org)
Pakistan Bans Issuing of New Gun Licences Ahead of Election
5 January 2013
Express Tribune (Pakistan) / International Herald Tribune
KARACHI - The Sindh government has banned the issuance of new weapons' licences until the general election.
The decision comes following the recommendation of the chief election commissioner to finalise security and administrative arrangements for the elections, said an official of the Sindh home department. Fakharuddin G. Ebrahim proposed banning new permits for weapons during a meeting of the election commission on Wednesday.
The notification has yet to be issued... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Express Tribune (Pakistan) / International Herald Tribune
India: Delhi Women Rush for Gun Licences after Fatal Gang Rape
3 January 2013
South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
Hundreds of women in Delhi have applied for gun licences following the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman by six men in a bus in the city last month.
The news underlines the widespread sense of insecurity in the city, deep before the incident and deeper now, as well as the lack of faith in law enforcement agencies.
The ashes of the victim of the attack - who died on Friday after 13 days in hospitals in India and Singapore and was cremated in Delhi in a secret... (GunPolicy.org)
Zimbabwe,Pakistan,Colombia,United States,Brazil
Brazil Should Continue Responsible Gun Control, Reduce Deaths Further
25 December 2012
Rio Times, Opinion
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Last week's slaughter of twenty elementary school children in the United States has tragic echoes with the massacre in Realengo, Rio de Janeiro earlier this year. At 8:30 AM on April 7th, Wellington Oliveira calmly walked into a classroom with two .38 and .32 caliber handguns, and shot twelve children dead.
At least sixty shots were fired and twenty boys and girls were critically wounded. It was the worst school massacre in Brazilian history.... (GunPolicy.org)
India's Growing Gun Culture, 40 Million Firearms 'A Concern'
20 December 2012
Gulf News (Dubai)
At about noon on November 17, Ponty Chadha, 55, a shady liquor baron, was gunned down outside his family farmhouse near New Delhi — by his brother, Hardeep Chadha, who was in turn was killed by the billionaire's guards. The feud centred on a property dispute. Things came to a head after Ponty asked his guards to deface the farmhouse board carrying Hardeep's name. When the younger brother got wind of this, he rushed to the spot and opened fire. Fifteen slugs were... (GunPolicy.org)
Israel,India,Czech Republic,Switzerland,United States,Italy
Indian Factory to Make 1 Million Rifles for Army Upgrade
16 December 2012
Sunday Standard / New Indian Express (Chennai)
NEW DELHI - The Indian Army has half a million rifles and carbines it doesn't want, and now plans to junk them all over the next five years. The dark lining is that these infantry weapons were developed and manufactured in India to equip four lakh soldiers at an expenditure of Rs 25,000 crore over two decades. So far, so bad. Now add another Rs 50,000 crore that will have to be spent over the next decade to re-equip our soldiers with the four kinds of weapons that are... (GunPolicy.org)
India Struggling with Illegal Arms Trade, Rise in Gun-Related Crime
28 November 2012
Time (USA)
In a small tent, in a village about 60 miles outside the capital, Salim is putting the finishing touches on his gun. Despite the bright sun outside, the shelter is dark and Salim, who uses only one name, has to bend close to see the homemade pistol he's been working on for the last hour. Salim, 50, makes pistols and rifles in his clandestine workshop in Jhola, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, where many villagers work in India's illegal gun making trade. Low... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Gun Market Booming in India
25 November 2012
Economic Times (India)
The details are still fuzzy as to who shot who, but the rivalry between liquor baron Ponty Chadha and his brother Hardeep ended in bloodbath at their Chattarpur farmhouse last week. Not just the brazenness of the act but also the wanton display of firepower stunned the entire country, forcing the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance and question the national gun-control norms. Clearly, the market for illegal weapons is booming in India. But where are the guns... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 60,000 'Outstanding' Gun Licences in India with Security on Rise
24 November 2012
Economic Times (India)
The rich have problems the rest of us don't adequately appreciate. Signifiers of wealth and status outlive their utility all too frequently. The material allure of expensive vehicles, clothes, accessories, elite education and club membership all fade considerably when others at a dinner party also possess them.
It is at the cusp of this problem and a unique Delhi VIP culture exacerbated by the ubiquitous movement of political figures with their armed commandos, that... (GunPolicy.org)
27 Prisoners Killed, 42 People Wounded in Sri Lankan Prison Shooting
10 November 2012
Associated Press / Yahoo! News (America)
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — A shootout between rioting prisoners and security forces at a prison in Sri Lanka's capital killed at least 27 inmates, while police said Saturday that they arrested five prisoners who had managed to escape and were searching for others.
Another 42 people were wounded in the clashes Friday between inmates and army and police commandos that broke out after the rioting prisoners broke into the armory and briefly took control of at least part of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Authorities Worried About Gun Crime, Availability of Weapons Rising
7 November 2012
Gulf Times (Doha) / Agence France Presse
It was a classic bank heist in many ways. Armed men using a stolen car and motorbikes held up a van carrying cash in central New Delhi, shot a guard, and made off with the money.
While familiar in many countries and a set-piece of Hollywood films, it set alarm bells ringing in India where gun crime and armed robbery is still low by the standards of other developing countries in Latin America or Africa.
The daylight robbery in September and several mass shootings in... (GunPolicy.org)
Homemade Guns Involved in Myanmar Conflict, Thousands Displaced
1 November 2012
Nation (Pakistan)
YANGON/DHAKA - Communal bloodshed in western Myanmar risks developing into "armed terrorist acts", the government said Wednesday, after homemade firearms were used in the latest deadly fighting.
The government said 180 guns were seized during the new wave of conflict between Buddhists and Muslims in Rakhine state, which has killed dozens and seen whole neighbourhoods razed. It said several people had been arrested on suspicion of making the weapons.
"The clashes... (GunPolicy.org)
India Craft Gunsmith Caught for Fourth Time Illegally Making Weapons
24 October 2012
Times of India
NEW DELHI - Munger in Bihar may have earned nationwide notoriety as a manufacturing hub of illicit arms but it is Meerut, closer home, which feeds much of the demand for guns in Delhi and its vicinity. The recent discovery of a gun factory in Meerut has revealed that illegal arms from this west UP town are lapped up by criminals in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
The special cell's raid at the factory was prompted by the arrest of 55-year-old Om Singh,... (GunPolicy.org)
India's Criminals Shun Craft Guns for More Expensive Modern Pistols
23 October 2012
Gulf News (Dubai) / Indo-Asian News Service (India)
NEW DELHI - A bank van was recently robbed of Rs52.5 billion (Dh3.58 billion) and its guard shot dead. The disturbing use of a weapon in the crime indicates the growing use of modern firearms by criminals in Delhi.
Be it robbery or murder, more and more criminals in the capital are opting for guns in particular, for a better strike rate and efficiency. Gone is the infamous 'katta' (home-made firearm), according to Delhi Police data.
The gun's steep price is clearly... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Gulf News (Dubai) / Indo-Asian News Service (India)
Lack of Guns Saves Lives says Maldives Gang Leader
22 October 2012
Guardian (UK)
Ibrahim sits in a dark corner of a cafe, talking about his gang, the stabbings and the money he makes from selling heroin. Outside, locals splash through the narrow lanes of the congested capital of the Maldives under a heavy monsoon shower. "It's been a good few months. We've been doing well," he says, lighting another cigarette. Recently Ibrahim's gang has been busy with a new sideline: providing political parties with muscle to intimidate opponents, swell meetings... (GunPolicy.org)
Local India Elections Threatened by Series of Candidate Homicides
18 October 2012
New York Times
NOWPORA JAGIR, India — On the day he was killed, Mohammad Shafiq Teli was working on a new sewage drain, precisely the sort of unglamorous, if essential, project that village governance is supposed to provide. Except that, for more than three decades, there had been no local governments here in the villages of Kashmir, India's tinderbox.
Last year, despite a threat of violence, rural Kashmiris turned out in huge numbers to elect village councils, known as gram... (GunPolicy.org)
United Arab Emirates,Sri Lanka,United Kingdom
UAE Detains Floating Gun Arsenal, Experts say Regulation Needed
17 October 2012
National (Abu Dhabi)
DUBAI - Alarm bells have sounded over the appearance of ships doubling as floating arsenals near UAE waters.
Of the estimated 12 armoury ships operating globally, at least four are known to operate off the coast of Fujairah.
They rent weapons to security companies that guard merchant vessels in the areas where pirates are active, and act as ammunition stores for security companies en route to UAE, Yemen or Saudi Arabian waters, where weapons from other countries are... (GunPolicy.org)
Drugs, Firearms Found on Trains from Pakistan to India Despite Crackdown
11 October 2012
Hindustan Times (Delhi)
Frequent seizures of heroin, arms and ammunition, and fake currency from goods train as well as Samjhauta Express coming from Pakistan have thrown up serious security challenges for India. Despite regular protest letters from India and meetings of customs officials of both sides, things haven't changed but only gone bad.
The recent seizure of 105-kg heroin has baffled the security agencies. Not only heroin, many a time, the customs and other agencies have seized... (GunPolicy.org)
Army Allege Over 100 Chinese-Made Guns Seized on Kashmir Border
27 September 2012
Hindu (Chennai)
Army on Thursday said it has found over 100 assorted weapons of Chinese make near the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector of Kashmir.
"More than 100 weapons, including 98 pistols, have been seized near the Line of Control in Keran Sector of Kupwara district," an army spokesman said.
He said the recoveries included 10 AK rifles and two assault rifles of other makes.
"The weapons are of Chinese make and the packing material like newspapers are also Chinese," the... (GunPolicy.org)
India's Criminals get Guns From Local Factories, Police Want Law Change
26 September 2012
Daily Mail (UK)
Criminals in Delhi are arming themselves with sophisticated weapons that are readily available from local arms factories, making them more dangerous than ever before.
According to Delhi Police sources, some of these weapons can use ammunition meant for imported arms, which are available on the black market and have added to their firepower.
Delhi Police has prepared an eye-opening report on the 'easy availability of high-quality firearms' in the Capital and the... (GunPolicy.org)
India's Criminals Prefer 'Brand' Guns, Extortion Rates Rise to Fund Them
24 September 2012
Hindustan Times (Delhi)
GUWAHATI - If the brand craze rules the average Indian, can the insurgent be far behind?
The old guard might have settled for cheap Chinese copies of Kalashnikovs, but the new age rebel prefers to flaunt Glocks, Berettas and Heckler and Kochs. And to fund the jazzy arsenal, the extortion rate has gone up by nearly 30%.
Officials engaged in counterinsurgency say in Meghalaya, the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) is replacing its Kalashnikovs with the Germanmade... (GunPolicy.org)
Black Market For Guns Thrives in India's Capital
23 September 2012
Times of India
NEW DELHI - An illegal arms bazaar is thriving in the city and it is easy to procure a gun if you have the money and right contacts. From simple kattas (crude handguns) to sophisticated automatics, everything's available for prices ranging from Rs 4,000 to Rs 2 lakh.
The trade has changed in some ways over the last decade. For one, it does not cater to only gangsters anymore. As the events of the last few weeks show, even lovers with a grudge can find guns easily now.... (GunPolicy.org)
India Authorities Blame Gun Availability for Rise in Homicides
20 September 2012
Times of India
NEW DELHI - Over the past fortnight, Delhi has witnessed a series of brutal killings caused by unrequited love that has surprised the cops and shocked the city. But consultant psychiatrists as well as sociologists feel that those involved in these crimes were emotionally too ill-equipped to negotiate refusal and at its core, the issue wasn't love but control.
The crime spots of the "jilted lover syndrome" are peppered over different parts of the city. But what's common... (GunPolicy.org)
Nepal Police Say Illegal Gun Trade in Tourist Hub Real Threat
8 September 2012
New Kerala (Thiruvananthapuram)
Senior police officers in the Kathmandu Valley have warned that Nepali capital has been turned into a hub for illegal trade of small arms and guns.
The nation's one and only major tourist hub Thamel has become a major centre for illegal exchange and buying of small arms, which threatens the safety of foreign tourists, said Hanumandhoka Jaya Bahadur Chand, chief of the Kathmandu District Police also known as Metropolitan Police Range (MPR), Xinhua reported.
"We fear... (GunPolicy.org)
Indian Man Shoots Self, Five Others After Rejected Proposal
3 September 2012
Times of India
NEW DELHI / GHAZIABAD - Spurned by a married woman, a heavily armed 27-year-old jobless youth went on a killing spree that left six people dead, including himself, in Delhi and Ghaziabad on Monday.
The bloodbath began when the alleged killer, Ravi, visited the home of his cousin Navin, a BPO cab driver who lived in Bindapur near Dwarka in southwest Delhi. Ravi had earlier proposed to Navin's wife Renu, 24, who had rejected him.
Police said Ravi was armed with an... (GunPolicy.org)
Punjab Women Take Up Guns to Shoot Criminals, Rebels, 'Spoiled Brats'
1 September 2012
Tribune (India)
CHANDIGARH - Septuagenarian Amrik Kaur of Amarkot, a recipient of the Shaurya Chakra, a top civilian gallantry award, wants arms licences for both her daughters-in-law to carry forward the family tradition of keeping its women armed.
Amrik Kaur — once known as the "lioness of the border areas" — used to engage militants in night-long encounters during the peak of militancy in Punjab. Though she lost her husband Shahbeg Singh and domestic help Mukhtyar Singh in one... (GunPolicy.org)
Increasing Demand for 'Status Symbol' Guns in India
16 August 2012
Indian Express
Is procuring a gun that difficult? Not quite it seems. The recent arrest of three Osmania University students for possessing illegal arms settles the debate to some extent. But when it comes to issuing gun licences, the Hyderabad Police is fairly conservative.
However, even by their conservative stats, it appears that more and more number of people, including a few women, in the twin cities are queuing up to get a licence.
Half of the applications are usually rejected... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Nepal Gun Owners Get Weapons Back After Amnesty
13 August 2012
Himalayan Times (Kathmandu)
KATHMANDU - After making amendments to the Arms and Ammunition Rules, 2028, the government today called all licence holders of small arms to renew their licences and take the arms back which were voluntarily submitted to the government or seized by security forces during the conflict which ended in 2006.
On July 27, the Cabinet took a decision to this effect of handing over the arms which were legally owned according to the rules within six months. Some people had... (GunPolicy.org)
Indian Politicians Able to Buy Confiscated Guns Despite Criminal Charges
3 August 2012
BBC News
Why do so many Indian parliamentarians need guns?
And why are guns being sold to MPs who have criminal cases pending against them?
Nobody quite knows. But the government's reply to a freedom of information request on gun ownership among MPs has revealed some startling facts:
- 756 guns were sold to MPs and VIPs - usually politicians - in India between 1987 and 2012.
- 82 MPs purchased guns being sold off by the state between 2001 and 2012.
- 18 of these 82 MPs have... (GunPolicy.org)
Indian Police Say Demand Growing for Gun Licences, Illegal Weapons
2 August 2012
Times of India
AHMEDABAD - The wealth of the city and areas nearby has grown in the past half decade or so, and the number of firearms has also corresponded with this. In Ahmedabad city and parts of Gandhinagar, applications for firearm licences have increased by 25 per cent in the last two years. In the city alone, the firearm licence branch receives about 25 new applications every month.
J B Gadhvi, inspector of licence branch, said most applications come from persons fearful for... (GunPolicy.org)
Nepal Faces Growing 'Gun Culture' and Crime Rate
26 July 2012
Himalayan Times (Kathmandu)
KATHMANDU: A burgeoning trade in small arms has accentuated [the] threat to public security in the Kathmandu Valley, which witnessed three shooting-related deaths in the fiscal year 2011/12.
The September 26 murder of Muslim activist Faizan Ahmed, December 23 murder of jeweller Harka Bahadur Diyali and the May 31 assassination of Supreme Court Justice Rana Bahadur Bam in Lalitpur highlight the threat that these arms pose. So far, police have managed to bring the... (GunPolicy.org)
Rate of Homicide Using Unlicensed Guns Rises in Maharashtra, India
23 July 2012
Times of India
The police in Maharashtra seem to have another growing problem on their hands. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, the number of murders with unlicensed firearms increased in the state every year by more than 30% since 2009.
An NCRB report showed that 37 people were killed in Maharashtra in 2009 with unlicensed firearms. The next year, the figure rose by 32% to 49. And the year after that, it reached 67, a rise of 37%. Altogether, from 2007 and 2011, more... (GunPolicy.org)
Indian Sports Shooters Accused of Selling Guns to Black Market
22 July 2012
Daily News & Analysis (India)
The 1991 shootout at Lokhandwala in which the police killed gangster Maya Dolas indicated that ammunition imported for the use of sports shooters had ended up with criminals.
A specific type of ammunition called wadcutter .32 was found at the encounter site. "Wadcutters are used only for sports events. Since I am also into shooting, I knew about it," said a retired senior police officer. It goes without saying that arms and ammunition designed for shooting as a sport... (GunPolicy.org)
Celebratory Shootings, Stray Bullets Killed 41 Indians in 7 Months
19 July 2012
Hindustan Times (Lucknow)
LUCKNOW - The death of Mehtab, a 10-year-old boy, in celebratory firing at Bareilly on Tuesday indicates the state government's efforts have not succeeded in checking the unwelcome practice. In the last seven months, 41 people have been killed in such incidents in various districts.
After two deaths in Faizabad in May, the state government had directed the district administration officials to cancel the licence, as well as initiate legal action against those who used... (GunPolicy.org)
More Indian Women Getting Gun Licences for Self-Defence
15 July 2012
Times of India
INDORE - Firearms and guns are catching the fancy and imagination of Indore women like never before. This year in the first half gun licenses were issued to six women as against the 12 in the past year. Officials say the number would go up by the end of the year.
In the past women hardly applied for gun licenses except for transfer of licenses issued in their late husband's name, said a senior official. But now, there are several applicants seeking license for fresh... (GunPolicy.org)
Alleged Nepal Gun Smuggling Ring Linked to Organised Crime, Police
14 July 2012
Himalayan Times (Kathmandu)
BIRGUNJ - Organised mafias are involved in the weapon smuggling in cahoots with police personnel posted at police offices of Parsa, Bara, Rautahat districts, sources said.
According to security officials, different organised groups are active in purchasing the stolen weapons in nexus with police personnel.
Police investigation on the lost weapons shows that leaders of different parties wielding clout in the region are involved in the incident.
"We have found the... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Guns Easy to Get, Linked to Most Violent Crimes in Bangladesh
14 July 2012
Khabar South East Asia
An explosion of illegal small arms has spiked crime in Bangladesh, made its borders an arms trafficking route and above all, stolen lives.
Salma Sultana, 35, a resident of Dhaka's Mirpur suburb, knows the horrendous impact of gun violence more than most.
Returning from a relative's house with a friend on April 6th to his home, Sultana's husband, 40-year-old Hazrat Ali, came to the aid of three women out for a morning walk who were set upon by three muggers.
Ali did... (GunPolicy.org)
Indian Security Forces Seize Enough Firearms for an Army from Militants
8 July 2012
Economic Times (India) / Press Trust of India
SRINAGAR -- The quantity of arms and ammunition recovered by security forces from militants in Jammu and Kashmir over the past 22 years is enough to raise an army larger than that of 150 member countries of the United Nations, officials said.
According to state home department officials, security forces have seized nearly 31,000 AK rifles of various series from the militants and their hideouts in the state since the eruption of militancy in 1990.
The security forces... (GunPolicy.org)
Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,United States,Pakistan,Cuba,Iran,China,Russia
Arms Trade Treaty Should Cover Broad Range of Arms and Ammunition
8 July 2012
New York Times, Editorial
The world is awash in conventional weapons, like tanks, firearms and aircraft, with the market valued at $40 billion to $60 billion a year. Far too many of these arms are fueling conflicts and atrocities in Syria, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and beyond. They have been used to kill countless innocent civilians, and they will be used against countless more if the international community does not find a way to keep them out of the hands of unscrupulous regimes,... (GunPolicy.org)
Nepal Advocates Arms Trade Treaty in UN
7 July 2012
Himalayan Times (Kathmandu)
KATHMANDU - Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations Gyan Chandra Acharya yesterday reminded that millions of lives and livelihoods have perished, and serious violations of fundamental human rights have occurred due to irresponsible and illicit transfer of weapons and munitions around the troubled parts of the world.
Delivering his statement at the UN Conference on Arms Trade Treaty in New York, the Nepali envoy emphasized that a robust Arms Trade Treaty... (GunPolicy.org)
Russia's Position on the Arms Trade Treaty
6 July 2012
Voice of Russia (Moscow)
Russia has one of the most well developed arms control systems in the world and we have only one arms exporting nongovernmental agency which controls all arms trade.
Interview with Sergey Denisentsev – expert of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies from Moscow, Russia.
What is the position of Russia on IATT?
Well, the key difference between the Russian approach towards IATT and the approach of countries of the EU is the matter of goals of IATT.... (GunPolicy.org)
Colombia,Chad,Sudan,Congo (DRC),Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,European Union,Pakistan,India,China,Africa,Russia,Syria
NGOs Set Minimum Specifications for Arms Trade Treaty [Francais]
27 June 2012
Le Monde (France), Opinion
[Translated summary: Associations, NGOs and hundreds of members of the global coalition "Control Arms" have set minimum specifications for the future Arms Trade Treaty. It will have to control all types of conventional arms and ammunition used by military as well as by law enforcement, since they can be used for serious human rights violations. ATT will include exports but also imports, transit and all types of transfers and all actors, such as arms brokers, like Viktor... (GunPolicy.org)
Booming Sales of Pistols and Other Small Arms in Karachi, Pakistan
16 June 2012
Pakistan Today
KARACHI - The legal and illegal sale of the light weapons in the violence-hit metropolis is skyrocketing as the target killers appear to have an inclination for using the arms that are lethal but handy. These small-sized deadly arms are: 9MM, 30 bore and .22 pistol.
According to police sources, in over 90 percent incidents of targeted killings in the city the killers had used small-size but highly sophisticated weapons during the last five months.
The sources said the... (GunPolicy.org)
Tajikistan,Afghanistan,Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan Officials Alarmed by Small Arms Proliferation
15 June 2012
Eurasianet.org (EU/Asia)
A spokesman at Kyrgyzstan's Interior Ministry has acknowledged that only about half of the small arms that went missing during the country's 2010 political and ethnic violence have been accounted for. The "huge number" of weapons floating about is "enough to carry out another revolution in the country," believes the chairman of parliament's defense and security committee.
Bishkek's 24.kg news agency reported this week that security forces lost about 1,200 small arms... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Official Arrested at Indian Airport for Carrying Ammo without Licence
13 June 2012
Indian Express
A Punjab police official was on Tuesday arrested with 52 live bullets at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here just before he was about to board a flight to Manila, a CISF official said. Inspector Atul Soni, was going to Manila on a Philippines Airlines flight when his baggage containing variants of live and spent bullets was detected by CISF security personnel at at T3 terminal. Soni, who said he was posted in Mohali, had 46 live rounds of 9 mm pistol, 3... (GunPolicy.org)
Sri Lanka Police Launch Massive Islandwide Crackdown on Illegal Guns
9 June 2012
Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)
Police yesterday began a massive islandwide crackdown on illegal firearms and weapons on a directive by IGP N.K. Illangakoon.
IGP Illangakoon has sent a circular to Officers-in-Charge of police stations islandwide to seize illegal firearms forthwith by conducting raids on hideouts of criminals and other suspected individuals, Police Media Spokesman Ajith Rohana told the Sunday Observer.
"Illegal firearms and weapons are used by underworld gangs despite it being an... (GunPolicy.org)
People of Ahmedabad District, India Rush for Gun Licences
8 June 2012
Indian Express
AHMEDABAD - With land prices having shot up in the auto hub of Sanand and land-owners flush with cash, the township in Ahmedabad district now wants more and more of guns.
Since 2010, when the Tatas changed the once-sleepy town into a destination of global auto majors like Ford and Peugeot by relocating its Nano plant here, Sanand has topped the list of firearms licencees.
According to data obtained from Ahmedabad district collectorate, between 2010 and May 2012, a... (GunPolicy.org)
Court Orders Raid, Closes 3 Pakistani Gun Shops Selling Assault Weapons
7 June 2012
Dawn (Karachi)
NAUSHAHRO FEROZE - Three shops of arms and ammunition were sealed by the first judicial magistrate of Moro on Thursday on charge of sale of prohibited bore arms.
Judicial Magistrate-I Sohail Ahmed Mashori raided arms and ammunition shops and ordered sealing of three shops belonging to Mohammad Ali and brothers, Miandad Loond arms and ammunition dealer and one other person.
The magistrate raided shops in presence of reporters and found that over 200 automatic,... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Cancel 2,982 Gun Licences, Cite 'Rampant Misuse' in India
4 June 2012
Times of India
KOCHI - From now on, owning guns is not going to be an easy affair in Ernakulam as the city police have begun checking rampant misuse of licensed weapons. They are cancelling licences of existing gun owners as well as rejecting fresh applications.
According to police officials, they cancelled arms licence of 2,892 gun holders of the total 5,214 licence holders in Ernakulam district in the last two years.
The licence cancellation drive was initiated after the police... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Bust Another Fake Gun Licence Racket in Panchmahal, India
1 June 2012
Times of India
VADODARA - Close on the heels of fake gun licences racket being busted in Bharuch, Panchmahal police have also unearthed a similar fraud in the district. The special operations group (SOG) of Panchmahal police has seized five fake licences with a similar number of firearms and is probing further.
The SOG achieved breakthrough after it received information that a security guard working with a company in Baska near Halol had a fake firearm licence. Further investigations... (GunPolicy.org)
France,United Kingdom,Somalia,Afghanistan,Egypt,Syria,United States,Africa
Excluding Ammunition from Arms Trade Treaty 'Totally Irrational' - Oxfam
30 May 2012
Oxfam International (Oxford), Media release
Excluding ammunition from new international Arms Trade Treaty would be "totally irrational"
Global sales of ammunition are worth more than $4 billion and are growing at a faster rate than trade in guns, yet there is virtually no regulation in place to control where the bullets end up, according to international agency Oxfam, in a new report today.
The report, 'Stop a Bullet, Stop a War,' has been published ahead of this summer's Arms Trade Treaty negotiations in New... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,France,United Kingdom,China,Pakistan,Venezuela,Cuba,Iran,Algeria,Egypt,Russia,Syria,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa
New Global Arms Treaty Must Set Tough, Legally Binding Rules - Oxfam
29 May 2012
Chicago Tribune / Reuters
LONDON - States must set legally binding global rules on weapon and ammunition sales, aid agency Oxfam said on Tuesday, ahead of a United Nations summit to agree an arms treaty to prevent arms reaching human rights violators.
Citing the example of Syria, which has continued to receive arms shipments even as it is accused of killing more than 9,000 civilians in a crackdown on a popular uprising, Oxfam said it is vital that regulations on weapons sales are... (GunPolicy.org)
Curbing 'Rampant Misuse,' Mumbai Denies 84% of Gun Licence Requests
28 May 2012
Times of India
MUMBAI - In a bid to rein in rampant misuse of licensed weapons, the police rejected more than 80% of applications for gun licences last year, with not a single builder or film personality granted sanction. Even among those who did receive the approval, around 18% were policemen who had sought licences for personal use of firearms.
Statistics obtained through a query filed under the RTI Act show that out of 340 applications filed for gun licences in 2011, 284 were... (GunPolicy.org)
Growing Number of Indian Women Turning to Firearms for Protection
21 May 2012
Guardian (UK)
When Dr Harveen Kaur Sidhu travels from her home in an upmarket neighbourhood of the north-western Indian city of Chandigarh, she always slips her lightweight .22 revolver in her bag. The gun is a new purchase – Sidhu got her licence only a year ago – but now the 33-year-old dentist won't travel without it.
"I don't have faith in the police to protect me. There are so many attacks on women these days. It's everybody's right to defend themselves. I think all women... (GunPolicy.org)
Hong Kong,Italy,Germany,Israel,Austria,Bulgaria,Russia,India
Over 29,000 Russian AK-47s Imported by Indian Paramilitary Forces
20 May 2012
Times of India
NEW DELHI - AK-47s continue to be the preferred assault weapon for the country's paramilitary forces deployed to neutralise terrorists and Maoists at the frontiers and in the hinterland.
Over 29,000 pieces of this Russian-origin rifle were imported by forces like CRPF, BSF and NSG over the last three years, leaving behind, by a large margin, other sophisticated assault weapons procured from the US and Israel.
The inventory of the assault weapons procured for security... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil,Turkey,China,Pakistan,Central Asia,Russia,Afghanistan
Where Do 20 Million Illegal Guns Come From? Afghanistan, Says Pakistan
17 May 2012
Express Tribune (Pakistan)
KARACHI - There are an estimated 20 million illegal arms in circulation in Pakistan.
This includes serious firepower: law enforcement authorities are increasingly coming under attack from criminals and terrorists armed with heavy weapons such as grenades (including rocket-propelled ones), long-range sniper rifles and machine guns. The volatile situation in Lyari was a case in point, where despite the fact that police were equipped with tank-like armoured personnel... (GunPolicy.org)
Large Cache of Automatic AK-47, Handguns, Ammo Seized in Pakistan
15 May 2012
Pakistan Today
RAWALPINDI - Police and law enforcement agencies Tuesday have ceased costly weapons, which were being smuggled from lawless area to Punjab and arrested two outlaws.
Police received a tip off that heavy amount of weapons are being smuggled in a van registration number (LES-9070). However police stopped the van near Khamida check post for checking and found 10 Repeater guns, 10 automatic Kalashinkov, 50 pistols, five Revolver and 3500 bullets and arrested two persons.... (GunPolicy.org)
Fake Gun Licence Racket Busted, 15 Security Guards Arrested in India
13 May 2012
Times of India
BHARUCH: At least 15 security guards of various private agencies were arrested for running a fake gun licence racket in Bharuch. Police also seized 17 illegal fire arms and 110 cartridges from the security guards working at ATM centres of various banks.
Due to central intelligence agencies' inputs regarding possible terror attacks, Bharuch police officials from C-division police station were carrying out routine checking at Golden Bridge on Narmada.
While checking two... (GunPolicy.org)
Indian Military Officers Found Guilty of Illegal Gun Sales
8 May 2012
Times of India
JAISALMER: An Army court of inquiry has found 74 officers and one JCO guilty in the illegal sale of arms case in Sriganganagar between 2002 and 2004.
So far, the Army has taken disciplinary action against 33 officers. Similar punitive action has been initiated against the remaining officers, said defence spokesman Col SD Goswami.
Besides, the Standard Operating Procedure on disposal of non-service pattern weapons has been revised to avoid recurrence of such incidents,... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,France,China,Pakistan,Afghanistan,Sweden
Pakistan a 'Very Gun-friendly Society,' 9 in 10 Owners Unlicensed
30 April 2012
Dawn (Karachi)
On January 25 this year, 32-year-old Waqas, a garment factory employee was hit by a bullet in New Karachi and he died. The bullet was not fired from the gun of a target killer, but by friends of a bridegroom amidst late-night wedding celebrations.
Two children aged 10 and 12, died in Sialkot in a similar incident on February 20, when the jubilant brother of a bridegroom unleashed a burst of bullets.
Such accidents, almost an every-day affair in Pakistan, never make it... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Vow to Strip Celebratory Shooters of Licence in Uttar Pradesh, India
25 April 2012
Indian Express
After several incidents of celebratory firings during victory processions of SP leaders and weddings, DGP AC Sharma has issued a circular to book gun licence holders involved in such incidents. The circular also said their licences will be cancelled within a month of the occurrence of such incidents.
The DGP has said that local police station officers will be accountable for such incidents taking place in their areas. The district police chiefs will ensure penal action... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Armourer Accused of Siphoning Ammo to Indian Militants for 7 Years
23 April 2012
Times of India
DIMAPUR - In a development that will shock the Nagaland police department, a recent raid conducted by 29 Assam Rifles and Dimapur Police has exposed a possible nexus between a police constable and militants. Identified as Enyimi Chakhesang, the constable has allegedly been supplying ammunition from the Police Centre Store, Chumukedima to members of NSCN (IM)
Security forces had information that the militants were stocking ammunition at the Sukhovi area and they raided... (GunPolicy.org)
Indian Dip in Gun Licence Applications Due to Improved Law and Order?
18 April 2012
Telegraph (India)
Firearms are losing their spark in Patna or so it seems from the decline in the number of people seeking arms licences over the past five years.
Till a few years ago, public display of firearms was common on the roads of the state capital. This trend, however, has taken a beating since 2007 (see chart).
A source in the arms magistrate office said: "From 1990 to 2005, the annual number of applications for arms licences was almost 2,000 on an average but after 2006, the... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Gun Dealers Faking Gun Licences 'Security Threat' to India
12 April 2012
Nagaland Post (India)
GUWAHATI - Several armed private security guards and criminals of Assam possess firearms bought using fraudulent arms licences procured from Kangpokpi in Manipur and Dimapur in Nagaland.
Sources in the criminal investigation department (CID) of police, which is investigating the matter, said the arms and ammunition procured by using these licences, many of which were fake, had become a threat to public safety and a major concern for security forces.
"If anybody... (GunPolicy.org)
Ethiopia,South Africa,Burkina Faso,Sierra Leone,West Africa,Ukraine,Côte d'Ivoire,Eastern Europe,Russia,Central African Republic,Iraq,Afghanistan,United States,Colombia,Angola,Liberia,North Africa,West Asia,Africa
Shadowy 'Merchants of Death' Behind Africa's Illegal Gun-Running
11 April 2012
Think Africa Press (London)
Arms dealer Viktor Bout was sentenced to 25 years by a US federal court last week.
Widely known as the 'merchant of death', the 45-year-old Russian has delivered weapons and arms to a wide range of presidents, insurgents and rebels in Africa and the Middle East including the likes of Charles Taylor in Liberia and Jonas Savimbi in Angola. He was caught in a US sting in which his services were solicited for the supply of weapons to Colombia's FARC rebels.
His companies... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Makers Express Strong Reservations Over New Pakistan Arms Policy
8 April 2012
Express Tribune (Pakistan)
PESHAWAR - Expressing strong reservations over the Small Arms Manufacturing Policy 2011, arms manufacturers say that the sector is small and passing through difficult times and should be given some concessions.
Manufacturers say that fixing a production quota for each factory will prove fatal, so it must be abandoned and fixed only for 'at a time basis'.
In its proposals, the Hunting and Sporting Arms Manufacturers Association Peshawar has argued that they cannot hire... (GunPolicy.org)
Lawyer Kills Police Officer in India - Handgun Licence Obtained in Jail
31 March 2012
Indian Express
A probe has been ordered into how lawyer Saurabh Verma, who shot dead sub-inspector (S-I) Devendra Kumar and injured a constable with his licenced revolver inside Naubasta police outpost on Thursday night, had procured firearms licence.
Verma has several criminal cases pending against him and is learnt to have procured the arms licence while he was in jail in 2004.
Kanpur SP (City) Umesh Kumar Singh told The Indian Express that the lawyer has been jailed thrice in... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Accused of Fumbling Crime Gun Ballistics in Pakistan
19 March 2012
Tribune (Pakistan)
KARACHI - Every gun leaves a unique mark on the bullets it fires. This is true for every firearm in the world. This fact makes it all the more baffling that there is no centralised database that contains the ballistic signatures – the term for these unique marks – in Pakistan.
Despite repeated calls made by senior police officers for such an integrated system, the requests have fallen on deaf ears.
Take the example of Sindh, in particular Karachi. Despite the fact... (GunPolicy.org)
Asia,Laos,Thailand,China,India
Indian Militants Buy $Millions of Guns from China via Thai Broker - Claim
18 March 2012
Telegraph (India)
NEW DELHI - Northeast outfits are employing crafty financial methods to procure arms worth millions of dollars and make them look like legitimate legal buys.
A series of arrests by the National Investigation Agency of militants from various outfits has revealed formulae that take the best financial brains to come up with.
A number of such devices tumbled out of the militants' closets after the NIA arrested NSCN (I-M) leader Anthony Shimray and over 20 United National... (GunPolicy.org)
