Re: [HumJanenge] Re: CCS to discuss including Indian Armed Forces under Lokpal etc

NSP or non standard weapons are allotted to officers. After World War
II, the US and British Army that fought in Burma and South East Asia
left thousands of .30 Springfield rifles and .30 Winchester carbines.
These were semi automatic weapons.They were occupying a lot of storage
space in the Ordnance Depot at Jabapur so a decsion was taken to
dispose them off to officers, on payment. Till the sixties or
seventies, there was not much problem in getting a licence for a semi
automatic weapon. With the rise in terrorism, the Government made the
rules very strict. Now, only the Home Secretary can issue such
licences.

Earlier, 303 was a prohibited bore for rifles,and 38 for revolvers,
as they were used by the Army and Police. Later, with the Army
changing over to 7.62 mm for rifles and 9 mm for pistols, these have
also been added to the prohibited list. According to the regulations
for the Army, an Army officer can possess one pistol/revolver without
a licence as long as he is in service. As soon as he retires, he must
take a licence. Most officers pass on the weapon to another serving
officer as a gift, who may be close relative. As regards NSP weapons,
the rules are clear. One can keep it as long as he wants. When not
needed, these should be returned to Ordnance. One can also transfer it
to another service officer, who is authorised to possess such a
weapon, after taking permission. Selling it for a profit is against
the rules.

I think the Army is not the only one where this is prevalent. Almost
every senior IAS and IPS officer has a weapon purchased from the
Malkhana, where arms confiscated from dacoits, terrorists etc are
kept. Often, politicians too get such weapons allotted. Another source
is the customs warehouse where confiscated weapons are stored.

Maj Gen VK Singh (Retd)

On 9 July 2011 21:24, Sarbajit Roy <sroy.mb@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear Wg Cdr Karnik (and other veterans)
>
> Some of us (civilians) would like / appreciate your valued opinion on what
> causes today's generation of officers to yield to such temptations.
>
> Sarbajit
> (List Moderator)
>
> On Sat, Jul 9, 2011 at 1:15 PM, suresh karnik <sdkarnik35@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> From Wg Cdr S.D Karnik
>> I am proud to state/inform that I got a 32 Colt Pistol in 1956 as a Pilot
>> Officer from COD Allahabad
>> when I alongwith my Squadronmates had applied for the same - only 2 of us
>> out of the whole Squadron of 16 Fighter Pilots got allotment merely on our
>> application withou applying any pressures etc.
>> I am indeed happy to inform that I still have the weapon in my custody
>> even after retirment (with Police licence). In 1960 I was offered Rs.
>> 50,000/- for sale.  In 1968-69mI was offered Rs.One Lakh. In 1982
>> I was asked to name my price for sale.  I DID NOT YIELD TO ANY TEMPTATION.
>> I still have the weapon as
>> my personal weapon with an emotional attachment as I had it with me on my
>> person during sorties on  the offensive missions in 1971 war.
>> I am indeed sad to read the present happenings.
>> Wg Cdr Suresh Damodar Karnik Vr,C
>>
>
>