The Indian Ordnance Factory Board has refused to make public information on efficacy of the infamous anti-riot “12 Bore Pump Action Gun” used as pellet guns, saying it will adversely affect the security of the country. In its response to a Right to Information Act application, the Ordnance Factory Board cited sections 8(1)(a) which exempts from disclosure information related to security and strategic matters and section 8(1)(d) which exempts information related to commercial confidence. The RTI application was transferred to different authorities in the Board before being rejected by the Ordnance factory in Khadki, Pune which cited the exemptions to refuse disclosure of information. “I had not asked information about weapons and ammunition used to defend the country against external aggression. I was only asking information about the specifications and characteristics, pricing and sales data about anti-riot weapons.

Source: The Hindu September 15, 2016 11:26 UTC