---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Stephen Dias <steve.dia...@gmail.com> Date: 9 November 2014 08:16 Subject: ARMS LICENCE RENEWAL AND DEPOSITION IN THE POLICE STATION.
Dear Collector of GoaMrs Nila Mohanan Madam, Very few arms licence holders read orders or instructions in local dailies. Luckily the Times of India dt 7th Nov. 2014 published the news which is enclosed herewith, from the District Collector of Goa that they have to resubmit the details in a prescribed proforma available in the collector's office as per the direction from Union Home Ministry, which is very good for the security reasons and also tracking the legal arms/ weapons available in Goa. Why this kind of advertisement was not published in other leading newspapers in Goa? In fact the Collectorate of Goa should have sent letters to arms licence holders by Reg /AD post as they have all the addresses with them, so that the office could have got the proof, especially because this particular advertisement says that those who do not submit the prescribed form, their licence will be null and void. This is not the correct procedure as some Goans may not read newspapers. Many times such things are taking place during elections whether Municipality or Assembly/Parliament the message is reached via the newspapers only. Although many licence holders deposit their guns in their respective police station, I have noticed and also informed earlier Collectors in writing that these guns are not properly preserved in the rooms of designated Police inspector. This Police headquarters room is so shabby, not ventilated and in bad condition. I have requested the earlier Collectors to make available a good depositing room for the arms/guns and that the servicing of guns may be done in case the elections goes beyond 3 months duration as these guns are of sentimental value and imported ones where licence holders do not get any spares parts in India. Earlier during Portuguese regime all these servicing and maintenance work was being done at the headquarters of Police Station and even after few years of liberation this habit was continued. Will the present District Collector Mrs Nila Mohanan instruct PI's, PWD or Home Dept staff to get it done? The worst scenario that the Arms Licence holders have their grievances is about the licence fees being increased substantially high, which the licence holders used to pay for 3 -year renewal after the year 2001 was Rs. 560/- and increased on 2004 onwards for Rs.1060/ and further increased Rs.2000/- and in future it may still further increase. When these guns are mostly of sentimental value and some licenses are given for self protection and agricultural crops etc the fees are found quite high, and not satisfactorily. It is requested that the Govt of Goa and present Chief Minister Mr Laximikant Parsenkar who have just taken reins may give some consolation to Arms holders and decrease the renewal fees for earlier tariff fee for Rs.560/- . Mostly people are senior citizens in Goa and having imported arms/guns. They will be very much grateful and appreciate this gesture if approved by this present Chief Minister of Goa. I think this is going to be his first task. Stephen DiasD.Paula ==================================== -Arms licence holders asked to resubmit detailsTNN | Nov 7, 2014, 12.33 AM IST inShare Comments <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Arms-licence-holders-asked-to-resubmit-details/articleshow/45074339.cms#write> More <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Arms-licence-holders-asked-to-resubmit-details/articleshow/45074339.cms?prtpage=1> A A READ MORE North Goa <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/North-Goa>| License <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/license>|Arms <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Arms-(musician)> RELATED - North Goa taxi operators consider taking business online <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/North-Goa-taxi-operators-consider-taking-business-online/articleshow/40943715.cms> - North Goa taxi owners raise banner of protest <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/North-Goa-taxi-owners-raise-banner-of-protest/articleshow/44842636.cms> - Exercises for flabby arms <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life%20&%20style/health%20&%20fitness/fitness/Exercises-for-flabby-arms/articleshow/18845122.cms> - Sex positions for stronger arms <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life%20&%20style/health%20&%20fitness/fitness/Sex-positions-for-stronger-arms/articleshow/23253067.cms> - Mind-controlled prosthetic arms soon <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Mind-controlled-prosthetic-arms-soon/articleshow/44766735.cms> *Panaji:* All arms licence holders in North Goa must resubmit their details by filling a new form, to the office of the North Goa collector, latest by November 30. Addressing mediapersons, North Goa collector Nila Mohanan said that this follows directions from the Union ministry of home affairs which wants to create an online national database of arms licences. All arms licence holders will be issued new licence booklets by October 1, 2015. From that date on, all old licences will be considered null and void. While arms licence holders may collect the forms from the mamlatdar offices in North Goa, submission of the forms must essentially be done at the North Goa collector's office, where a special help desk has been set up and will accept forms even on Saturdays and Sundays. Mohanan said that arms license holders have been told to compulsorily come to the North Goa collectorate to submit the forms so that if there are any corrections to be done, these can be done at once and arms licence holders do not have to be summoned repeatedly later on. The details are being collected by the collector's office so that all details of arms licence holders can be entered into a computerized national database which will hold details about all arms license holders across the country. The ultimate aim of the Union ministry of home affairs is to set up an "arms license issuance system" (ALIS) for the entire country. In this system, if a person possessing an arms licence in Goa is transferred to any other state, it will be possible for him to renew his arms licence in that state through ALIS. Mohanan stressed that if the details are not submitted and the new format licence not obtained, possessing a firearm without a valid arms licence will be considered a criminal offence, she said.