Zaroo Gun factory in Rainawari area of Srinagar, the Kashmir’s one of the last surviving gun factory is facing a bleak future and gun makers are struggling for their survival.
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Burhan Farooq Zaroo owner of the Zaroo Gun Factory located in Sikandar Pora Rainawari has now four workers where over 30 people were working sometime before.
Burhan Farooq told KNO that Zaroo Gun Factory was started in 1964 and has been making 12-bore rifles since then.
“My grandfather, father and uncle were working here but grandfather passed away and father and uncle are old now and I am handling it now,” he said.
“After pursuing graduation, I started working here and have been making guns but demand is very low now,” he said, adding they are hardly earning Rs 100 per day on which it is very hard to meet two ends.
“Our guns were being used by locals, non-locals, ex-servicemen, security guards but due to ban on licence and other issues, demand is very low,” he said.
He said that it takes around one month to make a 12-bore gun and it takes around 1-2 months to pass the gun in Indian ordnance test.
Gun is being manufactured at a cost of around Rs 10000-15000, he said, adding that around 25 persons were working here but now just four persons are working here.
“There was a ban on making guns since 2009 but the ban has been revoked and we have started to work again and have got online registration as well,” he said.
Earlier around 50 families were dependent on making guns here but now only 7-8 families are dependent on it, he said.
“We are happy with this work as it is work of ancestors if government is going to support us,” he said, adding that as of now we have registered the company and got unique identification number as well—(KNO)