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Old 22nd April 2009, 11:34   #1
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Arms Alley

Crossing the border from Bengal to Jharkhand, we were speeding down the Grand Trunk Road when we noticed that the road side shacks which normally housed dhabas or tyre shops were displaying a very different kind of merchandise. Lining both sides of the road were stalls selling sharp instruments of every conceivable variety.

Arms  Alley-02_roadsidesales_web.jpg


Spears, choppers, knives, swords interspersed with colorful baseball bats and hockey sticks for variety...a true anarchists dream. A much more genteel and watered down version of the famed Dara Adam Khel of Pakistan the roots of these shops lay way back in time when crossing the lawless stretches of Bihar was an arduous journey and people stocked up and traveled in convoys to tackle roadside bandits. (Even in this day and age it is advisable to only travel through the stretch during the day and nighttime trucks still travel in convoys.)

Arms  Alley-01_armsalley_web.jpg

Arms  Alley-04_knuckleduster_web.jpg


Seeing our interest, the sales boys father went in to bring out his special stash which included commando knives and gleaming samurai sword knockoffs which are apparently big sellers with 'discerning buyers'.

On seeing me admiring these works of art, my driver/navigator/co-passenger/man friday ended up buying a giant kukri to sacrifice goats at his village.

Arms  Alley-03_inspection_web.jpg

Deal done, we bid goodbye and continued on our way, leaving a few budding arms merchants to ply their trade on the arms alley of GT Road!

Arms  Alley-05_armsandthekid_web.jpg
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Old 22nd April 2009, 11:40   #2
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Did they have a special Election time sale.

btw AFAIK as per law double edged knifes longer than 6 inches are illegal.

But I sure do find this very interesting.
Thanks for sharing.
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Old 22nd April 2009, 12:02   #3
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nice collection of arms and armaments.
I see even Khukris...Did any one spot Samurais :-)
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Old 22nd April 2009, 13:20   #4
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I just cant believe this sale, especially at the election time!
Isnt this illegal?!
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Old 22nd April 2009, 13:33   #5
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I believe Anuj has answered this here:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ml#post1122245
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Old 22nd April 2009, 13:36   #6
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This is surely the election special!
Direct from the badlands of India, this is quite disturbing and eye opening.
I have every reason to believe that these weapons will eventually land up in the hands of thugs and criminals, pity the state machinery is not putting an end to this blatant murder of law!
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Old 22nd April 2009, 14:12   #7
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This is not an election special but a regular stretch of shops.

Apparently tourists also buy these for "display"

@bblost: Am aware of the rules, hence told my driver to stash his newly acquired khukri deep in his luggage. Some months later he carried it in his bag to his village in a public bus...sigh..

@hillram: the samurais, commando knives, fancy daggers ( i think some were knock offs from animation/warrior films) were kept in a 'special' box in a house by the side of the road!

Last edited by khan_sultan : 22nd April 2009 at 14:53. Reason: back to back posts
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Old 22nd April 2009, 14:48   #8
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I believe ,I read about this in GQ thread already.
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Old 22nd April 2009, 16:20   #9
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ahh nice but am not very sure if it is legal??

btw a OT:

If one plans to carry a knife in his car just in case...is it legal/illegal?
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Old 22nd April 2009, 19:28   #10
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Carrying a knife with a blade longer than 4" is illegal. You need a licence for that.. I carry a 3' solid steel rod in the boot whenever I am on the highway. I also carry a hydraulic jack and the excuse is since I can't bend down to operate the jack, this rod is required. Have gotten away with this excuse all the times.

Last edited by gd1418 : 22nd April 2009 at 19:30.
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Old 22nd April 2009, 20:15   #11
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Hmm, some of those weapons actually need some skills, otherwise you will be just hacking with it. For example, I was quite clueless when I wielded an old Indian sword, I only know the double handed Samurai sword technique.
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Old 22nd April 2009, 20:27   #12
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Oh and what would have come out if you showed more interest in merchandise than you did? Any guess?
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Old 22nd April 2009, 20:42   #13
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Apart from knives, I see the 'brass knuckle' hanging on the rail. Another popular equipment used around the time of elections.
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Old 22nd April 2009, 20:45   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sudev View Post
Oh and what would have come out if you showed more interest in merchandise than you did? Any guess?
Just my thought!! I wonder if they would have the horses (translated to english) so openly for public. Also, how would they recognize that people showing interest are not plain clothes policemen??
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Old 22nd April 2009, 20:56   #15
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Makes for good eye candy, however still lethal in its own way. Wonder why the cops turn a deaf ear to such shacks. Arent they illegal ?
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