Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar asks those in possession of illegal firearms to surrender them before November 1

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday set a November 1 deadline for those in possession of illegal firearms to surrender them to the authorities. He warned of strict action against those who fail to comply with the deadline.

Addressing a programme organised by the Forest Department in Bengaluru to mark Forest Martyrs’ Day, the Chief Minister assured that no cases would be filed against those who voluntarily surrender illegal firearms before the deadline.

Mr. Shivakumar pointed out that a large number of forest officials had lost their lives in attacks by people possessing illegal firearms. “If you want to keep weapons to protect yourselves or your animals, you need to obtain a licence for them,” he said.

He recalled that he had earlier convinced people in his Assembly constituency to surrender about 300 illegal country-made weapons to the authorities following a tip-off from a forest official. According to information available with the government, several people still continue to possess country-made weapons illegally, he noted.

Allowance to forest staff

He said he would soon take a call on the appeal made by Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy to provide a special allowance to forest staff. He said a decision on extending such an allowance to both forest and police personnel would be taken in consultation with the Finance Department.

The Chief Minister said he shared a special bond with forests as his native place, house and constituency were all located close to forest areas. Expressing concern that people living in forest-border areas did not have a good relationship with forest staff, he advised officials to be more friendly towards local residents. Observing that many forest encroachments had taken place a long time ago, he suggested that officials desist from putting pressure on local people to clear them. Instead, the issue could be dealt with through legal means, he said.

He said efforts would be made to develop tree parks on Forest Department land in urban areas. He had also directed city corporations to revive the programme of planting saplings through schoolchildren.

The Chief Minister also asked forest officials to work towards the success of the Tegada Siri programme, under which farmers would grow teak trees on roadsides in association with the Forest Department.

Mr. Reddy also spoke on the occasion.