The city Task Force sleuths busted a fake gun licence racket and seized 35 illegal fire arms from security guards working in various agencies. About 11 security guards and the owner of Protection Management Services were arrested on charges of forging gun licenses and using them to procure weapons.

The police commissioner, Mr A.K. Khan, said, “Security agencies are aware of what they are doing. We checked their licences with the issuing authorities and found them to be forged. Also, when they buy weapons, they are supposed to inform the police at their place of residence and re-register the weapon when they change residence. We have 11 illegal 12-bore weapons and 24 other illegal guns whose owners escaped abandoning the weapons. We also booked the agency owner for abetment.”

Taking advantage of the demand for armed security personnel by private banks, agencies and guards are resorting to procuring firearms illegally. Unarmed security guards are paid Rs 5,000 whereas armed guards are paid Rs 9,000 to Rs 10,000 per month. The accused persons are residents of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The arrested were identified as T. Raja Vijay Prakash Babu, an ex-army man and a resident of Neredmet, the owner of Protection Management Services, Sanjay Choubey, Sanjay Sharma, Asghar Ali, Ashok Singh, Rajn-arayan Singh, Bhagwar Dayal Singh, Brijesh Kumar Singh, Brijedar Singh, Ashok Kumar, Ram Kawal Pradhan and Arvind Kumar Yadav. The accused, Prakash Babu, is outsourcing guards to Scientific Maintenance Security Services and Writers Safe Guard.