Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar asks those in possession of illegal firearms to surrender them by November 1

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar attends the Forest Martyrs Day program at Aranya Bhavan in Bengaluru on Friday. | Photo credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday set a deadline of November 1 for those in possession of illegal firearms to surrender them to the authorities. He warned of strict action against those who fail to meet the deadline.

Addressing a program organized by the Forest Department in Bengaluru on the occasion of Forest Martyrs Day, the Chief Minister assured that no action will be taken against those who voluntarily surrender illegal firearms before the deadline.

Mr. Shivakumar pointed out that a large number of forest officials have lost their lives in attacks by people possessing illegal firearms. “If you want to keep guns to protect yourself or your animals, you have to get a license for them,” he said.

He recalled that he had earlier convinced people in his assembly constituency to hand over about 300 illegal weapons made in the country to the authorities after being tipped off by a forest official. According to the information available to the government, several people are still in illegal possession of country-made weapons, he noted.

Contribution to forest personnel

He said he would soon take up Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy’s call to provide special allowance to forest employees. He said the decision to extend this allowance to both forest and police personnel would be taken in consultation with the finance department.

The chief minister said he shares a special bond with forests as his birthplace, house and constituency are located near forest areas. Expressing concern that the people living in the forest border areas do not have a good relationship with the forest personnel, he advised the officials to be more friendly to the locals. Since many forest encroachments had taken place a long time ago, he suggested that officials should stop pressuring local people to clear them. Instead, the issue could be addressed through legal means, he said.

He said efforts would be made to develop tree parks on Forest Department lands in urban areas. He also directed the city corporations to revive the sapling program through school children.

The chief minister also asked the forest officials to work for the success of the Tegada Siri scheme, under which farmers would grow roadside teak in collaboration with the forest department.

Mr. Reddy also spoke on the occasion.

Published – 11 Sep 2026 20:22 IST