CM mulls reviewing gun laws
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 25 2023: Chief Minister N Biren led ministers and MLAs as well as leaders, members and workers of BJP in paying last respect to the slain party leader Laishram Rameswar at the party's state head office, Nityaipat Chuthek, here, on Wednesday.

Interacting with the media after the memorial service, Biren said that he strongly condemned gun violence but appreciates police for the swift action.

Initially, he suspected anti-social elements but that was not the case.

There seems to be some attempt to suppress truth behind the incident and the government is not taking the incident lightly.

The government is identifying if there was anybody instigating the accused to commit the crime, he said, while assuring that appropriate legal actions will be taken up.

Regarding arms license, the CM said that the government will review the process of issuing arms license to find out if the license holders fulfil the requisite criteria and if there are any misuse of the licensed arms.

Ever since BJP came to power, strict verification is carried out before issuing arms license.

Considering the incidents of misusing licensed arms, the government will review all the arms licenses and verify if these license holders are still facing threat to their lives, he said.

Strongly condemning the killing of Rameshwar by an individual possessing a licensed gun on Tuesday morning, N Biren assured to do the needful for tracing sources of the proliferation of unauthorised guns to curb unwanted incidents in the future.

He stressed that gun licenses should be renewed only after conducting verification on the applicant's general health and mental health.

Blaming the previous government for issuing gun licenses on trivial matters enjoying nepotism and favouritism, the CM, who also holds the home portfolio, said that his government has always restricted issuing gun licenses.

He, however, didn't mention how many licensed gun holders are there in the state.

Asked about the motive behind the killing of Rameshwar, the CM disclosed that it was a personal issue leading to the killing with a licensed firearm.

But the matter would be investigated thoroughly so as to ascertain whether there is involvement of others and conspiracy behind the killing, he said.

It may be mentioned that prime accused Ayekpam Keshorjit and his accomplice Ricky Ponting alias Amu are now in police custody.

The duo shot dead Rameshwar, who was a retired army man at Thoubal Kshetri Leikai, Thoubal district.

A Keshorjit deposited his licensed gun a .32 pistol with two magazines and nine .32 calibre bullets before the police on the same evening the incident took place.

After the memorial service, the body of the BJP leader was taken to his Thoubal Kshetrileikai residence where his last rites were performed after the local people paid their last respect.

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