30, Sep 2015

Sep 30, 2015 | Age Correspondent| mumbai
‘They can be used to prevent incidents like chain snatching’
Mumbai: Amid allegations that the Sanatan Sanstha gives its members arms training, the organisation has admitted it teaches the use of air rifles to women to prevent chain-snatching incidents. As a part of its self-protection training, women are taught various techniques including the use of air rifles, Sanatan spokesperson Abhay Vartak said.
At a press conference held on Tuesday in connection with the arrest of its member Sameer Gaikwad in Comrade Govind Pansare’s killing, the Sanatan clarified its stand on the issue. “We do not give ammunition training. But we do teach the use of air rifles to women as a part of self-protection techniques.
They are not guns and they are used for shooting balloons. They can be used to prevent incidents like chain snatching. Also air rifles need no licence,” Mr Vartak said at the press conference. He was replying to a query on photographs of Sanatan members taking rifle training being published.