Chandigarh, August 8

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has exempted ex-servicemen and senior citizens from the mandatory dope test for issuance and renewal of arms licences.The decision has been taken in response to a request by ex-servicemen/senior citizen groups. It was pointed out that many people in these categories had been in possession of arms licences for decades. The CM agreed that they were fit cases for exemption considering their track record and age.The decision comes about six months after the government decided to make it mandatory for all applicants to undergo a compulsory dope test to qualify for a weapon licence. — TNS