PRAYAGRAJ, April 4 -- Taking serious note of a growing gun culture and the systemic misuse of firearms to project power and influence in the society, the Allahabad high court has sought comprehensive data on arms licences issued in Uttar Pradesh. Justice Vinod Diwakar observed that individuals with political ambitions or questionable backgrounds are using licensed weapons to project authority, cultivate a dominant image, and indirectly intimidate others, thereby fostering an atmosphere of fear. The court was hearing a writ petition filed by Jai Shankar alias Bairistar, a jeweller whose application for an arms licence was rejected by the Bhadohi district magistrate after an unexplained delay of almost four years. The high court specifically took exception to the display of firearms on social media platforms, including Instagram reels. The high court observed that this behaviour is used to seek attention, gain social validation, and reinforce identity through the amplification of gun culture. The court, in its order dated March 23, said, "Such misuse contributes to a culture of fear rather than adherence to the rule of law. It undermines public confidence in legal institutions and normalises violence within society." "It reflects the persistence of feudal power structures, the inadequate enforcement of norms governing the public display of firearms, and the influence of a media-driven peer-validation culture. The interplay of power, perception, and social media further exacerbates the issue," the high court added. The court has directed the additional chief secretary (Home) to apprise it whether an arms licence database has been prepared by the UP government. The state government will further clarify if any formal arms policy has been formulated to guide the district magistrates in making reasoned decisions regarding the grant, refusal or renewal of licences. The court also took a stern view of the fact that multiple members of a single family, such as a husband, wife, son, daughter, and daughter-in-law, hold individual arms licences and sometimes possess multiple weapons and stressed that this practice requires serious judicial scrutiny. Accordingly, the court directed all the district magistrates in the state to provide district-wise and police station-wise details of firearms possessed by individuals. The authorities must explicitly indicate cases where family members hold separate licences. Furthermore, the court ordered the preparation of a separate category of arms licence holders who have a criminal history of two or more cases. The matter will be heard next on April 28....