Rs 6.35 cr seized, over 4,000 arms still not deposited

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, March 30: With four days to go for the first phase of assembly elections, over 4,000 licensed arms still remain to be deposited with the police.

According to a statement released by the State Election department last night, there are over 30,288 licensed arms in the State. But till yesterday, only 26,283 have been deposited with the police.

gaon district has the highest number of licensed arms at 2,687, of which 2,341 have been deposited so far. In Cachar, only 843 weapons have been deposited against the 1,414 licensed arms possessed by people in the district. In Tinsukia, of the total 1,526 licensed arms, only 485 have been deposited.

Owners of licensed arms need to deposit their weapons well ahead of the elections as part of preventive action envisaged by the Election Commission of India to ensure conduct of peaceful, free and fair polls. This is done to ensure that the arms are not abused during the polls, either to intimidate voters or create law and order problems.

Meanwhile, authorities have seized over Rs 6.35 crore cash during raids in various parts of the State till yesterday.

The police have also seized 141 illegal weapons and 426 ammunition.

As many as 15,531 cases have been registered against as many persons at various police stations in the State.