India, May 23 -- Observing that display of arms publicly is harmful for social harmony, the Allahabad High Court has asked the Uttar Pradesh Government to furnish details of arms licences of 19 people in the state, including politicians Brij Bhushan Singh, Raja Bhaiya and Dhananjay Singh.

In his order passed on Wednesday, Justice Vinod Diwakar said, "In the name of self-defence, weapons that become instruments of intimidation promote fear rather than genuine security. A society in which armed individuals assert dominance through visible force and threats does not become more free or peaceful, rather it erodes public trust."

"It is the prima facie view of this court that the public display of weapons may create an illusion of dominance, ...