| Date: |
30-01-2015 |
| Subject: |
'Blank gun' import raises questions |
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CHENNAI: The arrest of a 22-year-old man who imported a 0.9mm blank revolver - one that makes the sound of gunfire but does not fire bullets - purchased online from a US merchant has raised serious questions on the norms for customs checks, expertise of police to identify firearms and the lack of clarity on legal and illegal purchases of such items in the age of e-tailing.
The small parcel, with its documents in order, was screened at four checkpoints at various airports as it travelled across the world from the United States to Chennai via Delhi. But it was detained in Chennai at a cargo transshipment centre after a scan showed that it contained a revolver. Police initially dismissed it as toy but less than a week later, on Tuesday, arrested R Suryadevan in Coimbatore.
They booked Suryadevan under Section 29 of Arms Act.
Describing it as an air gun, Suryadevan's brother R Sudarshan said the family did not anticipate strict police action. "My brother is an collector and ordered it as it was advertised as an antique piece," he said.
Air guns are easy to order online from abroad. However, customs have down restrictions on import of specific air guns to licensed users or rifle clubs and rifle associations. That consignment was cleared at Delhi twice, on arrival and before departure to Chennai, shows it is permissible to import the item or checks by customs were sloppy.
An airport official said in several cases, customs personnel are not clear about the rules. "They sometimes confiscate a gun even when it is imported by an authorised person," he said. "Air customs officials are trying to be cautious as they have to tread a fine line between clearing consignments and not compromising on security."
Rifle associations also face trouble in the import of air pistols and air guns though it is permitted by law. An online community of shooting enthusiasts details how a rifle association member ran around for more than three weeks to have an imported air pistol released from the Hyderabad airport. Police had to inspect it and he paid 100% duty, a post says.
The time taken by police to determine the nature of the gun reveals lack of expertise. Its forensics department's ballistic report says it is a firearm though it mentions that the front barrel does not have an opening. It does not have a firing pin but has chambers for bullets.
A Meenambakkam police officer said Suryadevan informed Coimbatore police that he had ordered the gun after reports about its seizure in Chennai. "When police summoned him to Chennai he had no idea he would be arrested," he said.
Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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