Ludhiana, March 20- To ensure free and fair election and maintain law and order in on-going Lok Sabha poll process, District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney has directed all arms licence holders in Ludhiana district to immediately deposit their licensed weapons and ammunition at the nearest police station by March 31.

Sawhney said that the administration had identified 28 vulnerable polling stations and seven critical polling stations in the Khanna police district, with 21% of the area of Khanna, Payal and Samrala being expenditure-sensitive. In the Ludhiana Rural Police District, 50 vulnerable polling stations and one critical polling station have been identified so far. In the Police Commissionerate Ludhiana, approximately 442 vulnerable/critical polling stations at 176 locations have been identified, with around 26% area of Ludhiana City being expenditure-sensitive.

Therefore on the decision of the Screening Committees and in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, Sawhney directed all persons holding licensed weapons to deposit their weapons by March 31 to the nearest police station, except for sportspersons who are registered with the National Rifle Association, persons with high threat perception, as recommended by the CP/SSPs concerned, persons who have been issued the licence in their official capacity such as armed forces, police, etc., armed security guards of banks and other institutions dealing in cash/precious items (on the recommendation and certification of the Bank or Organisation where such person is employed that he is engaged so), and individuals of communities who have a long-standing custom of displaying firearms (on representation).

Sawhney stated that any person wanting to seek exemption due to compelling reasons should apply to the Screening Committee for review of the decision with grounds for the particular case. Any such representation will be decided by the Screening Committee immediately, preferably within 24 hours. Non-compliance with this order will lead to prosecution under the appropriate sections of the Indian Penal Code and other relevant laws, she added.