Sumeer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 26

The number of arms licence applicants, who were being tested positive during the dope test, has witnessed a significant rise in the past few days.

Although, the number of applicants visiting the Civil Hospital to undergo dope tests has plummeted in the past one week, there has been a substantial increase in the number of positive cases.

The sudden spurt in such cases can directly be attributed to the State Health Department’s stricter stance before declaring an arms licence applicant (or those applying for renewal) medically and physically fit by increasing the number of substances (narcotic) for which an applicant has to be tested from five (till April 19) to 10 now.

As many as six applicants were found positive among 20 who had undergone dope test on last Thursday.

Similarly, on Friday, four applicants were tested positive among 16 who had undergone dope test.

On Saturday, as many as two applicants were tested positive among 12.

Earlier (prior to April 17), on an average four to six applicants were being tested positive among 50, undergoing dope test in a day.

As per an order issued by Anjali Bhawra, Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, on April 17, an arms licence applicant or those applying for renewal shall be screened for morphine, codeine, D propoxyphene, benzodiazepines, 9-tetra hydro cannabinol (THC), barbiturates, cocaine, amphetamines, buprenorphine and tramadol.

Dr Arun Bansal, psychiatrist at the Civil Hospital, said, “Dope tests, psychiatry analysis, vision test and orthopedic test will all act as filters that would eventually pave way for a safer society as the number of people possessing arms would decrease. Increasing the number of substances for which an arms licence applicant has to undergo test from five to 10 would also act as a catalyst in bringing down the crime rate in the region.”