MOHALI: Mohali has witnessed a slight increase in gun violence incidents this year. While the spurt is marginal, it has left the residents a worried lot.As per official sources, the district police have recorded around 16 cases under the Arms Act till November this year while this figure stood at 14 for the same period last year. In most of the cases, the accused had used illegal firearms to commit crimes. On the other hand cops claim that it was a marginal increase and the situation was under control.An official of the police department said, “In most gun violence incidents, the criminals used country-made pistol because of its easy availability in other states. In almost all incidents, the illegal weapons were obtained from Uttar Pradesh.”He added there were some cases where people had obtained gun licence but failed to renew the same.Incidents of attack on Punjabi singer Parmish Verma and the murder of a Punjabi aspiring singer were two gun violence incidents.Verma was shot at near his home in Sector 91, Mohali, in a post midnight attack on April 14. Dreaded gangster Dilpreet Dahan had fired at him for extortion money.A month after the attack on Verma, aspiring Punjabi singer Navjot Singh was found shot dead with five bullet injuries to his body in a vacant plot on Barwala road near Derabassi on May 27.Raising concerns, Mohali residents are demanding a strict policy to prevent such crimes in the future.“Gun violence has been increasing by the day in the state. Young generations are misusing the weapons. We have seen young people holding weapons. Especially during marriage functions, youngsters were seen firing shots in the air just to show off. The government should set strict guidelines for procuring arms license,” said Satnam Daun, a resident of Mohali.Bhabbat village resident BS Pannu said, “The administration and police have sluggish attitude towards such issues. The officials are well aware of who has legal as well as illegal weapons. Hence, it is the need of the hour to adopt strict policy toward such matters.” “Beside, parents should also keep eye on their children and see that they are not going on the wrong path,” he added.A senior official of Mohali police on condition of anonymity said, “The district police are acting strictly on such issue. It was result of their action that 16 FIRs have been registered in the district this year till now.”

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