Preference to Bangladeshi’s over Ex-Servicemen in Kerala as Security!

Alappuzha: The recent trend of appointing Bangladeshis in posts of security officers, instead of retired ex-servicemen has raised concerns regarding security.

As usual practice, retired servicemen and paramilitary personnel receive gun license with the permission of Unit Commander. The first requirement towards procuring a job for retired servicemen in banks and other organizations is having a gun license. However, being unable to re-register the same in the state and with jobs related to the field of security going en masse to Bangladeshis, who manage to procure gun license, the matter has raise ample concern.

The state government had issued orders that renewal/ granting of fresh license in case of nonexistence of criminal cases in the person’s name, should suffer no delay. But ex-servicemen have complained that these laws are not being adhered to. It has been alleged that states outside Kerala grant license to use revolvers without ample documents and investigations. So with licenses being denied to ex-servicemen for flimsy reasons and lack of enthusiasm on part of officials in renewing the initially procured license, security department itself stands facing a grave peril, with illegal migrants from other countries procuring the same with ease.

The usual practice is to intimate the Addl District Magistrate Office by handing over an application, after having procured license from their specific units, before retiring from service. Following this, a police inquiry is initiated by ADO office. An inquiry report is handed over to the CI, DySP from the police station where the applicant resides. This is then handed over to the district police headquarters. After the SP recommends granting of license, the matter is conveyed to district collector, who finally grants the same.