India has one of the strictest gun control regimes where obtaining a gun license is difficult for ordinary civilians. Gun violence and death numbers are also relatively low. However, India has a vast underground market of illegal firearms operated by criminal gangs, epitomised by the ‘katta’ or the countrymade handgun. In this episode of Police Chowki, Javeed Ahmad (ex-IPS and DGP of Uttar Pradesh) and Shrikrishna Upadhyaya discuss the gun culture in India, especially Uttar Pradesh, the unintended consequences of the strict gun control regime, and the debate over arming police officers.
