Arms licences for Haryana businessmen on priority: Hooda

Haryana businessmen will get arms licences on a priority, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said.The step is for their security.

Addressing a convention of traders in Hisar, 260 km from here, Hooda said he has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to issue licences for weapons to businessmen on a priority basis.

Crimes against businessmen have shot up in the past few years in some parts of the state, especially in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Hooda said a coordination committee will be set up at the district level since it is the duty of the state government to provide security to traders.

The panel will comprise officers from the district administration and traders fraternity.

"The police have been told to pay special attention to providing security in and around commercial areas in the state as anti-social elements may try to disturb peace during the assembly elections," he said.

Assembly polls are likely to be held in late 2014.

The chief minister said the state government will honour all businessmen in the district who have paid the highest taxes.

"Haryana today has a congenial and secure atmosphere where businessmen can carry on their trade," he claimed.

(Jaideep Sarin can be contacted at jaideep.s@ians.in)