The number of incidents of firearms training being imparted to young boys and girls have seen a rise in northern parts of the country. In the month of May, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra saw these training happening in 5 separate incidents. The most trainings have taken place in Madhya Pradesh.
Under the Arms Act, section 9, anyone under the age of 21 is prohibited to possess or acquire any firearm or ammunition.
Arming Hindus has been on the agenda of right wing groups for a while now and in this bid, they have managed to distribute trishuls (tridents) to thousands of men and women in the past year. Distributing tridents to their workers and taking oath for Hindu Rashtra and protecting the religion has become a common practice in northern parts of the country, especially Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan where these right wing groups have a stronghold.
In Madhya Pradesh’s Shajapur, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Durga Vahini organised a weapons training camp for minor and young girls calling it “Shourya Prashikshan Varg” (Bravery training class) between May 7 to May 14. A local news portal called ‘Breaking Newswala’ did a report on this where it can be seen on video how these young girls were given a rifle in their hands as well as long sticks and taught to fight with them on an open ground. This was organised on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hostel ground in Shujalpur and more than 500 girls were given the training.
On May 26 the training session in Jodhpur Rajasthan was aimed at training young girls in self defense and martial arts. It was organised by Durga Vahini. In the video the girls can be seen using rifles, sticks as well as being taught martial arts. The representative of Durga Vahini while speaking to the reporter of ABP Live said that the training was being conducted in using sticks and rifles as well and that the training session would last for 7 days in Saraswati Vidya Mandir and was being imparted to 200 girls.
Location: Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Hindu far-right groups Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Durga Vahini have organized a seven-day training camp where Hindu girls are trained in firearms. pic.twitter.com/Q3x8cJ4EfB
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) May 26, 2023
On May 30, a video surfaced on Twitter from Chittorgarh, Rajasthan whereby Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Durga Vahini organized the firearm training for Hindu girls. In the video girls were seen donning an orange dupatta and firing from rifles at empty glass bottles and towards the end of the video the girls in training were seen chanting ‘Jai Shree Ram’.
Location: Chittorgarh, Rajasthan
Far-right groups Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Durga Vahini organized illegal firearm training for Hindu girls. pic.twitter.com/anIqVQIlnG
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) May 30, 2023
Another video came up on May 30, from Panvel, Maharashtra where young boys were being trained in using rifles, sticks and general physical fitness.
Location: Panvel, Maharashtra
Firearm training at Bajrang Dal camp for Hindu youths. pic.twitter.com/emukjx8p4Q
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) May 30, 2023
On May 30 came another video from Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh where firearms training at “Shaurya Prashikshan Varg” camp was organized by Bajrang Dal. Young men were seen jumping logs set on fire while holding rifles in their hands and had tied saffron headbands.
Location: Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh
Firearms training at “Shaurya Prashikshan Varg” camp organized by Bajrang Dal. pic.twitter.com/JilBMnqDhZ
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) May 30, 2023
Many of these training resembled the kind of training that is usually imparted to defence personnel in training academies for getting inducted in the defence services.
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Arms training to minor and young girls in Madhya Pradesh
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