When the Guns Fall Silent

Unfinished double-barrel guns lie inside the Zaroo gun factory established in 1940 at Bandook Khar Mohalla, once a hub for several gun factories in Srinagar. Kashmir’s once flourishing gun factories are now in their death throes—only two are left—after a ban on civilian licences since the early 1990s when militancy erupted in the state. The two remaining gun factories are allowed to manufacture 300 to 400 guns a year—for sale outside the state. From procuring permits to getting the guns tested in an ordinance factory to finding dealers and hiring labourers from outside the state, it is a losing struggle. The gun-makers say they want to pass on the trade to the next generation, but fear government reproach may force them to shut shop and look for other means of livelihood

About The Author

Ashish Sharma

Ashish Sharma is an award-winning photojournalist with a lens that captures the 'moment' in its minutest detail. With over a decade in photojournalism, he is currently Deputy Photo Editor at Open Magazine

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