CHANDIGARH: A drunk Varun Kumar staggers down from the first floor with an air gun in hand. The Ludhiana resident is celebrating his birthday in Sector 51 of Chandigarh. He fires five shots in the air, sparking panic in the neighbourhood on the night of April 11. Cut to August 21. Three people, including a minor, are injured after an unknown person fires from an air gun in the market of Sector 39. Two days later, a couple and a boy are arrested with heroin and air pistols in Zirakpur. The so called non-lethal weapon is going places! The frequency behind its use in criminal activities in the Tricity has alarmed the police.
More than half a dozen incidents of attacks, creating nuisance and threatening people using these weapons, which are easily available in every gun house throughout the Tricity, were reported in last one year. A team of TOI visited about half a dozen registered gun houses in Tricity only to find that the craze to possess these guns has shot up in the last few years.
The owner of a leading gun house in Sector 17 says, "The wish to possess these weapons, which resemble original firearms, has increased, especially among youngsters, these days. If people from urban areas are keen to purchase air pistols that have a capacity to split a pellet at more than 20ft range, those from periphery prefer to own long-range air guns."
Arms dealers located in Manimajra and Mansa Devi Complex in Panchkula say, "People attached with regional film industry and theatre groups also purchase these air pistols and guns in a large number. The cracker with a low capacity is also in demand. It increases the velocity and noise of the pellet of air guns/pistols." According to experts, .22 and .177 calibre air guns/pistols are the most popular in the country and several dealers can arrange foreign-made air pistols/guns too.
Statistics available with Chandigarh police show air guns were used in seven incidents in last one year and about three FIRs were registered under section 336 of Indian Penal Code (an act endangering life or personal safety to others).
THE HITS
Aug 23 | A couple and boy arrested with heroin and air pistols to scare people in Zirakpur
Aug 21 | Varinder, Davinder and a minor received air gun pellet injuries in Sector 39
April 11 | Varun Kumar of Ludhiana fired a cracker along with a pellet through his sophisticated air pistol in Sector 51
Jan 3 | Three youths attacked two persons and shot air gun pellets at them in Phase V market of Mohali
Nov 19, 2015 | A gang of robbers, including two juveniles, arrested with two air pistols used in robberies
Oct 6, 2015 | A 14-year-old resident of Dadumajra in Sector 38 received five air gun pellet injuries