Mumbai: In a first, the Maharashtra government has decided to provide training on handling and storing of weapons to all people who apply for a weapons permits across the state.
The state home department has drawn up a module for a three-day training programme for all applicants of an arms permit, to cover various aspects of handling of weapons — dismantling and reassembling the arms, cleaning them, loading and unloading, trigger control and so on, said a government resolution issued by the department and seen by ThePrint.
The training will be open to people seeking a licence to buy arms, as well as those seeking a minor licence to repair arms. It is not mandatory for the licence-seekers to attend the training. However, those opting for it will need to attend the training in person.
“This is the first time that Maharashtra is trying out something like this. And to the best of our knowledge, no other state has instituted this kind to a training programme either. It is based on guidelines issued to states by the Union Home department,” Venkatesh Bhat, joint secretary at the state home department told ThePrint.
He added, the training will be voluntary. “Applicants of new permits can choose to opt for the training. Similarly, existing permit holders can also choose to opt for this,” Bhat said.
According to the government resolution, the idea behind the training is so permit holders know how to handle their weapons closely, in order to avoid mishaps. The training programme is scheduled to start with the receipt of new licence applications. The date of the sessions will be decided based on the number of applications received and applicants will be informed of when to report.
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Three-day training and a certificate
Officials from the state home department told ThePrint that the Maharashtra Police’s Training Directorate will be the nodal agency for the training on how to handle arms and keep them safely. Armed police personnel from the state training centres will drive the three-day course.
According to the government resolution, the training will run from 9 am to 11.30 am on all three days and will cost Rs 1,000 for every permit seeker.
Those interested in availing of the training will have to submit a written application to the Commissioner of Police or the police superintendent of the region. They will be issued a certificate signed by a police official of the rank of a deputy police superintendent or the joint commissioner of police, or higher, stated the resolution.
According to the schedule drawn up by the state home department, seen by ThePrint, on the first day, the trainees will be introduced to arms. They will get basic information about the weapon, its advantages and shortcomings. They will also get suggestions on the best safety measures to adopt. The first day will also cover aspects such as how to open a weapon, its assembly and how to clean it.
On the second day, licence seekers will get basic information on ammunition, how to load a magazine and unload it from a weapon and the discipline one must follow while handling arms and ammunition.
The third day will involve training on controlled firing, dry practice, the various positions to fire a weapon and trigger control.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)