Muthalik seeks firearm licences for Hindu outfit leaders

As providing police protection was limited to certain areas, it was necessary for the leaders to carry firearms, since there was threat to them from various quarters, including extremist forces, the Sri Ram Sene chief said.

A file photo of Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik.

Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik on Wednesday said he would submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting the need for providing licences for firerams for self-protection for leaders of Hindu outfits considering increasing incidents of attacks on them.

As providing police protection was limited to certain areas, it was necessary for the leaders to carry firearms, since there was threat to them from various quarters, including extremist forces, who were carrying sophisticated weapons, Mr. Muthalik told reporters in Coimbatore, adding, similar petitions would be submitted to the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

Mr. Muthalik, who hit the headlines in 2009 after members of his organisation attacked boys and girls at a pub in Mangalore, submitted a memorandum to the Coimbatore Police Commissioner highlighting the need for providing licences for firearms for Hindu outfit leaders and others facing threats.

The government can also consider providing such licences to all those who face threats, including Dalits, who are also becoming target of attacks, he said.

He claimed in Tamil Nadu alone, 127 workers of Hindu outfits were murdered in the last 10 years.

On sexual assaults on women, he said the government and school managements should come out with a dress code for the students, since attire was also one of the reasons for such heinous crime.

He also said government should ban forcible conversions.

Mr. Muthalik said the Tamil Nadu government should follow Kerala and introduce prohibition in phases, which would decrease crime rate.