KOLLAM: The Kollam district rifle association has set up the state's largest automated indoor air-conditioned shooting range at Ramankulangara here. It will have advanced automated mechanism to reset the firing target card with the press of a button. The range with the facility for ten persons to shoot at a time will host the fourth district shooting competition on Saturday.
“The shooting range has compressed air in airtight chamber which maintains international standards. The district rifle association provides training with an annual fee of Rs 10,000. It has developed four national record-holders and two youngest champions--B. Aditya and Sansiya Morris--who have currently completed the first round of selection process for national championship,” said Mr Saju S. Das, association secretary. Meanwhile, the association has alleged foul-play in not sanctioning firearm licence though the institute has a proven track record.
“We had applied for firearm licence to the district administration three years back, but it is being delayed indefinitely though we have produced all necessary documents. I suspect it as an apparent move to hush up illegal licence distribution that took place in the past years,” he added.Mr. Saju also alleged that several fake organisations had secured firearm licences in the name of fake sports events with the knowledge of high-level officials,” he said. The shooting range will be inaugurated by Kollam Mayor V. Rajendrababu and the shooting competition by Police Commissioner Ajeetha Beegum at 10.30 a.m. on Saturday. The association, affiliated to the Kerala state rifle association based at police headquarters, has the district collector as president and police commissioner as vice-president.
