(L-R) Abbas Ansari, Dhananjay Singh, Raja Bhaiya, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh
Lucknow: The Allahabad High Court has expressed grave concern over the rising 'gun culture' in Uttar Pradesh and the arms licenses issued to strongmen.
The Court has asked the government to explain how individuals facing criminal charges were granted arms licenses and on what grounds they were provided with state security.
The High Court has summoned the criminal records and complete details regarding state security cover for several influential figures, including Abbas Ansari, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Raja Bhaiya, and Dhananjay Singh.
Court Shocked By Government Affidavit
The state government informed the Court that there are over one million arms license holders in Uttar Pradesh. Among them, 6,062 individuals have criminal cases registered against them.
Upon the revelation of this statistic, the High Court expressed its displeasure and demanded to know how such individuals were permitted to possess weapons despite facing serious allegations.
A single-judge bench comprising Justice Vinod Diwakar issued this order while hearing a petition filed by Jai Shankar, a resident of Sant Kabir Nagar. Prior to this, the Court had also sought division-wise details regarding arms licenses issued across the entire state.
Inquiry Ordered
The Court has also sought information regarding several prominent figures within the Lucknow Zone and the Commissionerate area. These include Khan Mubarak, Ajay Pratap Singh (alias Ajay Sipahi), Sanjay Singh Singhala, Atul Verma, Guddu Singh, and several others.
Furthermore, orders have been issued to conduct an inquiry into the arms licenses held by several influential individuals, including Raja Bhaiya, Dhananjay Singh, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Vineet Singh, and Udaybhan Singh. 'Consignments of Weapons to Maintain Dominance'
It was further submitted in court that several influential strongmen (bahubalis) in the state, along with their close associates, possess a large number of licensed weapons. The objective behind this is not merely self-defense, but also to maintain dominance and instill fear within society.
Citing threats to their lives, many individuals manage to procure multiple arms licenses, despite having criminal cases already registered against them.
High Court's Stern Warning
The High Court has directed the Superintendents of Police and Police Commissioners of all districts to submit information via affidavits and to ensure that no facts have been concealed. The Court explicitly stated that if any information is withheld, the concerned officials will be held personally accountable.
While making its observations, the Court remarked that the public display of weapons does not foster a sense of security in society, but rather creates an atmosphere of fear. Such an environment undermines social harmony and poses a threat to law and order.
