Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh), Nov 26 (ANI): Following the code of conduct for the municipal elections, the people here deposited their licensed arms with the police.

To prevent poll rigging and violence, this initiative has been taken by the polling officials and the district authorities. The people can get back their arms after the elections are over.

The authorities have asked the people not to worry about the safety and security of their licensed arms. After the process of election is complete, the arms will be assigned a number and a receipt of the same will be issued to the owner to reclaim the firearms with no trouble.

The district authorities say that the natives are cooperating in the entire procedure. People can be seen queuing outside police stations to submit their arms.

“I am here to deposit my weapon; there is no question of inconvenience in complying with the rule. It is governmental order. It is necessary step, and it is our duty to follow the rule. It is very easy to get the weapon back because everything is organized well. I am sure that my weapon will be safe,” said Anand Kumar a local.

Due to large number of licensed arms holders, the police stations seems to have run out of space.

“The process of the arms submission is consistently in progress. There are around sixteen thousand eight hundred and ninety three privately owned firearms in Gwalior district, taking into account the large number of the licensed arms the deadline has been relaxed by 3 days by the polling authorities. People are coming in large numbers. Beside police station private armories are being used to stock the deposited arms. I believe that in the next 3 days we will reach hundred percent mark,” said Bhagwat Singh Chauhan, the additional superintendent of police.

According to the police, the stride has been taken to ensure safe and peaceful elections. (ANI)