Arms deposit with the police station in Palamu is sluggish. Out of the 1457 firearms, only 897 have been deposited with the police stations in their length and breadth of Palamu.
Deputy election officer Palamu Kanuram Naag said "Palamu administration has again extended the date of deposit for firearms with the police stations. It's now April 7."
Naag added "We believe licensed arms holders will abide by the date of the deposit. The 897 deposit till March 31 is quite poor in response to 1457 arms."
The ECI has mandated verification and deposit of arms ahead of the polling.
Here the polling is due on May 13.
One arms licensee under condition of anonymity said "I have a license to fire arms but I am nervous about its deposit. I feel threatened when without firearms."
This man said he would be writing to the election officials to allow him to retain the firearms.
He said "I am a lawful citizen. I never flaunt my firearms. It is never out to intimidate or make any one go on knees before me. It's for aborting any bid on my life."
Polling in Palamu lok sabha seat is on May 13. It's more than 40 days from now. Such a long period of unsafety, in the wake of minus licensed arms is no happy proposition, said the man.
He quipped "How can I visit my construction site without my licensed firearms?"
There is an elbow room for such cases where a licensed arms holder has his defense for retaining the weapon.
