NCRB Director Sharda Prasad, in an official communique to UT Administrator Lt Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd) and Inspector General of Police M.A.J. Farooqi, has observed: "Firearms, especially small ones, have become a common tool for crime and violence. Proliferation of firearms by illicit means has become a security threat in the country," highly-placed sources point out. The bureau is seeking information from all over the country, sources add.

Prasad has stated that security threat increases manifold in the absence of a centralised data-base on movement and availability of firearms in the country. The Bureau has sought comprehensive information regarding the total number of arms accounts in the city along with complete details of the owners and records pertaining to sale or purchase of arms. Prasad has written to the authorities for supplying information under a separate category on the total number of prohibited bore weapons possessed by the citizens, sources reveal.

The NCRB has also supplied the format for collection and compilation of information on the firearms. "The idea is to have standardised inputs from all over the country for creation of the NARS. The system is designed to keep a tab on illegal possession and sale of weapons which is more prevalent in some select pockets of the country," a senior official points out.

Meanwhile, following directions from the UT Deputy Commissioner, the city police have compiled information on the possession of revolvers, pistols, rifles, carbines, stenguns and other firearms from all over the city. The police have reportedly received information of only about 1,000 firearms from all over the city -- including firearms registered in other parts of the country -- whereas according to records with the UT Estate Office, as many as 10,000 city residents are licenced to possess firearms, sources add.