Puttur MLA submits pending gun licence renewal list of 38 farmers to home minister

Mangaluru: Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai has submitted a list of 38 farmers whose gun licence renewal applications are pending to home minister G Parameshwara. The applicants are from Puttur, Belthangady, Bantwal and Sullia taluks.The MLA said the applicants had approached him regarding delays in the renewal process, following which he compiled and submitted the list to the minister.During the recent assembly session, Rai raised the issue of delays in renewing gun licences and referred to wild animal attacks on agricultural lands in Dakshina Kannada district. He sought clearance of applications filed by eligible applicants.Responding during the session, the home minister asked the MLA to submit a list of applicants who had applied for renewal. The list has now been submitted."I have submitted the list of 38 applicants from various taluks whose gun licence renewal applications are pending. I am confident the minister will take appropriate action," the MLA said.Separately, Rai has submitted a request to housing and minority welfare minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan seeking the establishment of a minority boys' hostel in the newly constructed but vacant Common Service Centre building of the minority department in Puttur. The proposal has reportedly received in-principle approval.The MLA said there was a shortage of hostel facilities for boys coming to Puttur town from surrounding rural areas for education, particularly those from poor and middle-class families. He said students from distant villages were facing difficulties due to the lack of accommodation.He also pointed out that the vacant Common Service Centre building could be utilised for the proposed hostel, reducing additional expenditure and ensuring the use of the existing structure.