weapon training | SabrangIndia News Related to Human Rights Fri, 31 May 2024 05:57:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://sabrangindia.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Favicon_0.png weapon training | SabrangIndia 32 32 Hindutva groups seen holding weapons training camps and rallies in the past month in 4 BJP-ruled states https://sabrangindia.in/hindutva-groups-seen-holding-weapons-training-camps-and-rallies-in-the-past-month-in-4-bjp-ruled-states/ Fri, 31 May 2024 05:57:32 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=35759 The Bajrang Dal and the VHP have reportedly organised a number of weapons training camps and rallies in Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

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]]> The month of May, with the voting for the 18th Lok Sabha elections going on, was in full swing with hate speech spewed by politicians. From these videos that have come up, it seems that right-wing groups too were not inactive, and instead were busy organising training camps amidst the election phase focussing on paramilitary training using what appears to be guns, air guns, and swords.

In Udaipur, Rajasthan, hundreds of Durga Vahini members organised a military-style street march, brandishing guns and swords. The Durga Vahini is the women’s wing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad. One more such video came from Rajasthan’s Beawar where young men can be seen holding the saffron flag in a uniform and brandishing weapons, including guns and swords.

Five such videos came from BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as well. As per Hate Detectors, an online portal on X, formerly Twitter, that documents hate crimes, Raipur witnessed both Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad organise a training camp for young people. The video uploaded seemed to be a remix and edited video, which even features a song, showing young boys exercising, performing stunts, as well as shooting.

The same organisations reportedly furthermore organised an air gun training session for youth in Agar, in Madhya Pradesh. Sehore in the state too witnessed another such camp. The state also witnessed a rally with scores of youths being seen holding weapons in their hands as they marched in Mandla.

Hate Detectors also featured a video from MP’s Nagda where over 400 girls attended a weapons training camp reportedly organised by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Durga Vahini.

Gujarat’s Sabirkantha also reportedly witnessed such an instance of weapons training for youth by the Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad.

Similarly, The Observer Post reported that a video has come out showing Shrikant Pandit, who the report says is associated with the Bajrang Dal, handling bullets and displaying arms.

Apart from firearms which cannot be used without a license, swords and blades that are bigger than nine inches in length and are not used for kitchen-related purposes also need the holder to get a licence under the Arms Act.

The VHP has been earlier also observed organising these camps across the country. To these reports, the organisation has also responded in 2016 that there is nothing ‘illegal’ about it, and termed the training as ‘routine.’ It seems that these camps have been routine. In 2022, a ceremony displaying the training was performed by a group of students in Karnataka under Bajrang Dal. The event, called Trishula Deekshe, took place at a school in the presence of local MLA’s, as per a report in the Deccan Herald.

Similarly, in May 2022, Kerala Police registered a case against 200 women from the Durga Vahini for marching with swords and other weapons in Thiruvananthapuram.

On August 8, 2023, after similar videos of such camps went viral from Assam and Rajasthan where over 350 young people were given weapons training and also were taught to consider Muslims as hatching an evil plan against Hindus of India. Citizens for Justice and Peace had filed a complaint at the National Commission for Minority urging the commission to take strict action.


Related:

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Hate speeches, stone pelting, brandishing of weapons – what VHP’s Shaurya Yatras have achieved till date

 Spewing hate, slurring Muslims: an unchecked decade-long diatribe by Bharatiya Janata Party?

UP Bajrang Dal leader and 3 others arrested for slaughtering cows to falsely implicate a Muslim man

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]]> Bajrang Dal organises arms training inside school, furious residents organise protest https://sabrangindia.in/bajrang-dal-organises-arms-training-inside-school-furious-residents-organise-protest/ Fri, 31 May 2019 14:27:25 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2019/05/31/bajrang-dal-organises-arms-training-inside-school-furious-residents-organise-protest/ Thane: In a brazen attempt to communally vitiate the atmosphere of the twin cities of Mira Road-Bhayander in Thane district, the Bajrang Dal was reportedly conducting an arms training camp inside a local school. Images of the arms being used were widely publicised by a local functionary of the Bajrang Dal on Facebook. These posts […]

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Thane: In a brazen attempt to communally vitiate the atmosphere of the twin cities of Mira Road-Bhayander in Thane district, the Bajrang Dal was reportedly conducting an arms training camp inside a local school. Images of the arms being used were widely publicised by a local functionary of the Bajrang Dal on Facebook. These posts were taken down after  residents raised a hue and cry and informed the police. Notably, the school in question, Seven Square Academy School is owned by BJP leader and MLA, Mira – Bhayandar, Narendra Mehta.

Bajrang Dal

Experts say such training camps are called ‘self-defence camps’ and air guns are used instead of actual guns to avoid legal scrutiny. However, according to section 3 of the Arms Rule, 2016, manufacturing, selling, acquisition and possession of air guns require a license from the designated authority as mentioned under schedule IV. It is not yet clear whether the organisers had the necessary license. Also, such activities attract criminal proceedings as mentioned under section 153A (1) (c) of the Indian Penal Code which states that any activity in which training of using criminal force or violence is conducted which may lead to promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and disturb the harmony will be liable with an imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

According to Sadique Basha, a local resident and leader of the CPI(M) in Mira -Bhayander, banners of the training camp organised from May 25 to June 1 were put outside the school and pictures from the camp were put up on facebook by Prashant Gupta, a bajrang dal activist. On visiting the school himself, Sadique and his friends witnessed the training of around 150 youngsters many of whom seemed like they were below the age of 18.

BD

Senior Public Inspector (PI) Ram Eknath Bhalsing, of Navghar PS, initially refused to take a complaint from Sadique and other citizens citing that this was a private activity being conducted on a private property but later accepted a letter that stated their concerns.

Following up on the matter, the residents also met the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Atul Kulkarni today. Consequently, senior PI Bhalsing was directed to visit the school and check if any such activity is going on. Following this the FB post has been taken down and all banners removed.

On being questioned how an education institute can grant permission to such training camps being organised, the school authorities have said that the vacation period was going on and they permitted such activities on their premises since “the order had come from the top management.”

Following the hue and cry, Prashant Gupta, who deleted all the posts related to the training, has now posted a threatening message on his Facebook account.


 

There have been multiple instances in the past when Bajrang Dal has conducted several ‘trishul distribution’ programmes. In 2016, there were reports of arms training being given to VHP’s women wing, Durga Vahini, at a school in Varanasi. Another self defence camp was organised at Ayodhya which had created a lot of public outrage.

On June 1, CPI(M) will hold a protest rally at Mira Road at 8.30 pm to ensure that the complaint gets registered against the organizer as well as the local MLA and such self defence camps are not permitted henceforth.

On contacting Sadique and asking him about why he and his organisation was against the training, he said, “Such training camps are places where people are basically taught to take the law in their own hands…It is nothing but an attempt to spread fear, especially among minority communities.”

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  2. After Bajrang Dal, UP police take a close look at Durga Vahini’s ‘self-defence’ training camps
  3. Bajrang Dal convenor arrested for arms training camp, spreading communal hatred in Ayodhya

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