Chennai: A 22-year-old youth from Coimbatore was arrested by the Chennai police on Tuesday night after he made an online purchase of a gun from the USA ‘for recreational use’.

The parcel containing the revolver type gun arrived last week in Chennai airport from the US.

After forensic experts in the city said it was a firearm, the police arrested and remanded the youth, son of a man who runs a jewellery making unit in Vadavalli.

The parcel that arrived through the postal service attracted the attention of officials at the airport cargo after they found that it was a gun. The post officials while re-booking the parcel to Coimbatore through a private flight service noticed it contained gun in it after it was scanned.

The parcel was addressed to R. Suryadevan and the officials contacted him over the phone to know the contents of the parcel. He reportedly told them that he had ordered recreational equipment online.

But the postal officials after consulting with the police decided to send it for forensic examination by experts who noted that at close range the gun could cause irritation or injury when used. “The forensic report said it was a firearm under Indian laws,” a senior police official said.

“Accordingly Suryadevan was booked under section 29 of the Arms Act for knowingly purchasing firearm though he was not entitled to possess one,” a senior police official said.

After receiving the forensic report, the postal department handed over the gun and report to the police on Tuesday morning. The youth was asked to come to Chennai from Coimbatore and the police after conducting enquires arrested him on Tuesday night. He was later remanded to Puzhal jail.

Guns are easy to buy

A quick search online reveals that the EKOL variant ordered by the Coimbatore youth is easily available ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 48,000. In most websites, these guns are classified under ‘sport/recreation’ and there is no restriction to buy these guns, which got the youth arrested.

When tried, the websites immediately process the order and get back with order no. And other details through e-mail.

In India, Civilians in possession of license to hold firearms can buy guns (revolvers, pistols and sporting rifles) online through the 'Ministry of Defence’ run ‘Indian Ordinance factories’ website by duly filling out the requisite forms. How ever, the variant EKOL guns classified under Blank Guns also known as Blank Fire Gun do not require any license/rifle club membership to purchase them. According to website of Ballarpur based Relish Sports which sells these EKOL guns online, “these blanks cannot be converted to shoot live ammo. Actually they are not made with material, which could handle the high pressure live ammo generate. Also there is no actual barrel in a blank gun but simply a slide, which is plugged,”

A quick try online reveals that the gun can be easily bought, mostly categorized under sports and recreation in websites. The official ARMS website of the manufacturers offers an EKOL Viper 2.5 Fume for 79 bulgarian lev (approximately `3000), an Indian website AIRSOFT GUN INDIA offers the product at Rs 48, 000, costlier than a 0.22” revolver bought through the Indian Ordinance factory.