SAS Nagar, September 28, 2024: District Magistrate Aashika Jain has imposed a ban on carrying firearms and ammunition in the SAS Nagar district to be effective from 27.09.2024 to 16.10.2024. The prohibition orders issued under Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, state that given the instructions issued by the State Election Commission of Punjab and guidelines under the Model Code of Conduct, the ban on carrying firearms and ammunition is in the public interest to thwart any untoward incident related to law and order problem and for safety of General Public during the General Elections to Gram Panchayats-2024. The orders further state that Police or military or Para-military personnel and other Govt. servants if called upon to carry firearms in connection with their duties will be exempted from the prohibition. Similarly, Sportspersons who are the members of National Rifle Association, at different levels and have to participate in various sporting events in which they use their rifles, as well as those categories of licensees who are exempted as per the instructions issued by the Election Commission of India, unless Screening Committee decides to impound the weapon by way of specific order, have also been kept out of the purview of these orders. However, those arms license holders within the District SAS Nagar who receive such a notice/order issued by the office of the District Magistrate on the recommendation of the Screening Committee would have to deposit their arms and ammunition within 07 days of receipt of such notice/order, at the nearest Police Station or with authorized arms dealers.