Varanasi: Hindu right-wing group Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Varanasi has announced that it will provide free distribution of swords, knives and sticks.
Sanjay Hindu Sinha, who claims to be the VHP’s Kashi Mahanagar joint-general secretary, said in a viral post that he will be teaching kung fu and issuing licences for swords with sticks at Bal Upasana Kendra close to Lohiyanagar in the Sarnath district, reported The Hindu.
“Free of cost training of lathi (sticks) for 15 days, knife for one month, swords for one month, and Kungfu for three months, after which licence of swords with sticks and knife will be issued for free,” reads the Facebook post, which has since been deleted after becoming popular.
The alleged announcement is against the law, which states that any Indian citizen must obtain a license from the relevant state authorities which then needs to be periodically renewed in order to keep any type of sword or knife that is larger than nine inches and that is not a kitchen appliance, Siasat reported.
The Varanasi police, according to The Hindu report, is likely to initiate an inquiry into the matter.
The Hindu right-wing group’s Kashi metropolitan president Kanhaiya Singh told Dainik Bhaskar that Sinha made this announcement in his personal capacity, and the party or any workers have nothing to do with it.
Swords and blades over nine inches in length and which are not kitchen appliances require a licence under the Arms Act.
Under the Arms Act, carrying weapons without a license is punishable by a jail term and a fine.
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