Ballari: The Karnataka Police have seized five private firearms following a tense incident in Ballari, even as a high-level investigation has been ordered into the use of armed private gunmen, Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order) said on Tuesday.
Addressing the media in Ballari, ADGP Hithendra said guns belonging to private gunmen from both sides involved in the incident have been taken into custody. He clarified that police personnel did not fire live rounds, and that only tear gas shells were used to control the situation.
“Five private guns have now been seized. Bullets recovered from the spot are being sent for forensic examination. We are treating this incident very seriously,” Hithendra said.
The ADGP confirmed that a bullet was found at the scene, but preliminary reports from local officers indicate that no aerial firing was carried out by the police. The bullet and the seized weapons have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to determine whether there is a match.
Hithendra acknowledged that “an incident that should not have happened has occurred”, prompting him to personally visit Ballari early in the morning. He said the department is examining why private gunmen were present, under what circumstances the weapons were used, and whether the actions violated the Arms Act.
“Under the Arms Act, firearms can be carried only for self-defence and strictly within permitted conditions. Why these individuals were here, how the weapons were used, and whether permissions were violated are all part of the investigation,” he stated.
Police have been directed to identify and verify all private gunmen present in and around the location, seize any remaining weapons, and examine the role of individuals who facilitated the presence of armed personnel or the erection of banners at the site.
The ADGP said further details will be shared only after the investigation progresses, adding that stringent action will follow based on forensic findings and legal scrutiny.
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