Sources informed that some of them have been exempted by the police. Interestingly, about 60 per cent license holders are political leaders of various political parties, while some of them are political office bearers of different rankings.
Similarly, the Thane rural police too issued notices and accordingly 930 have surrendered their weapons to the respective police stations.
"Weapons have been deposited so that they cannot use it during elections to influence, bully or threaten voters. It also acts as a preventive measure to maintain law and order and free and fair elections," a police official said.
Prior to elections, a high level arms scrutiny committee was formed at the commissionerate level in which the licensed arms holders were given notices to deposit their weapons.
A receipt of depositing given to the holder and after the elections the arms are returned to the person.