CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu has initiated digitization of records of arms licences under the National Database on Arms Licence (NDAL). Punjab is the only state to complete the project.

NDAL state coordinator V Suresh said the process began last week so that the state will be part of the web-based NDAL system designed to curb illegal arms. Under the system, arms licence holders will be given a smart card linked to a central database which is being compiled by the ministry of home affairs. District collectors in the state have been told to inform licence holders about the system and to get them to collect smart cards in place of licence booklets. There are nearly 40,000 gun licence holders in the state according to official statistics.

“It is a welcome move and this would help keep tabs on gun runners and help police look up gun license holders,’’ said a senior police officer. Civilians in the country own about 4 crore guns, legal and illegal, according to a senior police officer.

“The new system allows integration of application submissions, acceptance of fees and delivery of a licence from a single counter. The software also allows online capturing of the applicant’s photograph and automatic checking of the ceiling of number of weapons,’’ Suresh said. The database will allow police to track owners of firearms better, and also enable applicants to view the status of their licence application.

The online database will not only help the government calculate the number of arms licences issued across the country, but will also help check the proliferation of ammunition. In districts, the district magistrate gives licences for non-prohibited bore (NPB) while licences for prohibited bore (PB) weapons will be given by the home ministry.

With the new system in place there can be no room for forgery or duplication. The ministry of home affairs has also advised the states to carry out verification of antecedents, background and criminal record of the holders if there is a doubt about the applicant. The police need to send their report after verification within 60 days to the authorities concerned.

Suresh said the project was facing hurdles in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which have the largest numbers of arms licences in the country. Dr B N Shetty, deputy director general of National Informatics Centre, said the creation of a unique identification number and consolidation of data will plug the loopholes in the system. Suresh said the government has brought in amendments in the Arms Act which now include a provision obliging the licensing authority to maintain a database as may be specified and to share the data with the central government.

Officials said that in many districts in the country, private weapons have become status symbols and a number of arms licence applicants have taken licences from two or three districts in the same state which can now be detected and stopped. Suresh said that now authorities will be able to compile national data for arms licences as and when the applicant comes for renewal.

Tamil Nadu parties ink pacts, gear up for Lok Sabha election race

CHENNAI: With chief minister J Jayalalithaa all set to project herself as the leader of an emerging third front at the national level, battle lines are getting clearer ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK, accompanied by Left parties and armed with its government’s achievements and welfare schemes, could be way ahead in the race. The BJP camp too has drawn attention by tying up with Vaiko’s MDMK and the speculation of deals with Vijayakanth’s DMDK and the PMK led by S Ramadoss. With DMK spurning an alliance offer from the Congress, the two parties could perhaps be the lone players in the poll arena.

“The Left alliance may be referred to as a third front at the national level. But, here in Tamil Nadu it would be the primary alliance under Jayalalithaa’s leadership,” a senior AIADMK minister said. While the alliance with the Left parties might not bring it significant gains in the state, the association could help further the AIADMK’s ambitions for its leader to play a larger national role. Janata Dal (Secular) leader Deve Gowda and BJD leader and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik have been projecting her as a prime ministerial candidate. Now, the backing of the Left parties could give Jayalalithaa a much-needed boost, the AIADMK minister said.

The AIADMK believes that it will gain most from a multi-cornered contest. Party leaders say the split in the opposition vote bank would help the party in several constituencies. “The strategy to align with just the two Left parties is aimed at contesting and winning as many seats as we can,” pointed out another AIADMK leader.

For the BJP, any tie-up in the state would only be a gain. “Our alliance is now in a position to secure a few seats. We have already got a few parties in the alliance and the DMDK too might join us. With the Modi wave sweeping the country, our alliance might win more seats than we expect,” a state BJP leader said.

“We have now emerged as an alternative to both the AIADMK and the DMK in Tamil Nadu. This, added to the Modi wave, can help us win a good number of seats here,” said Tamizhisai Sounderarajan, BJP national secretary. Political commentators feel that if the BJP ties up with the DMDK and PMK, it might impact the AIADMK in a few constituencies.

It is a tough fight ahead for the DMK, which has some small parties for company. DMK treasurer M K Stalin on Sunday put up a brave face at a function, saying his party would win the election with the support of people and its alliance partners. For the Congress, it is virtual isolation.