New Delhi: The capital has witnessed a number of stabbing incidents in the past one year, and in most cases, a button knife ordered online has been the weapon of choice. But how easy is it to actually get one? On the digital marketplace, procuring this knife is just a click and Rs 87 away, TOI found.Under the Arms Act, 1959, and specifically the Arms Rules, 1962, the possession and sale of button-actuated knives are strictly regulated through a series of official notifications. While the Act generally exempts tools meant for domestic or agricultural use, a notification, often cited as the DAD Notification of 1980, brings specific sharp-edged weapons under the “mischief of the Arms Act” based on their dimensions. Specifically, it prohibits the possession of any knife with a blade length exceeding 7.62 cm (3 inches) and a width exceeding 1.72 cm (0.67 inches), especially if it features a spring-actuated mechanism.However, a single search for “push button knife” on major e-commerce platforms currently yields over 600 results. Priced between Rs 87 and Rs 3,000, these weapons are expertly camouflaged. Sellers bypass automated filters by using innocuous labels such as “Spring-Assisted Tactical Folding Knife”, “Multi-tool”, or even “Customised Engraved Pocket Knives” intended for “office use”.“The marketing as ‘safe kitchen tools’ is a facade,” said an officer. “Platforms argue the folding mechanism is a safety feature to protect users. In reality, this is a legal loophole. These are the weapons of choice for criminals because they are easy to conceal, bypass detection and can be brandished instantly with a single press of a button.”In Feb, the West district police registered an FIR under the Arms Act after a quick commerce website was found enabling the sale of such illegal blades. Investigations linked these online purchases to two murders, including one in which a 14-year-old boy was killed.While certain on demand convenience platforms that offer delivery within minutes have scrubbed these items following police intervention, TOI found they remain widely available on other major marketplaces online and can be bought with ease, with doorstep delivery within days.The primary hurdle for law enforcement is the legal stance taken by tech giants. Under current regulations, many platforms claim “intermediary” status, shifting the legal liability to individual third-party sellers.“When we ask why these products are listed, the standard response is that they are merely a bridge between buyer and seller,” a senior police officer said. “We send detailed notices with specific product IDs. They might remove that one listing, but dozens of new ones appear hours later under different keywords.”Taking note of the menace, Delhi Police has initiated a crackdown and held meetings with nodal officers of e-commerce companies to immediately remove listings of flick knives and daggers. To combat the influx, a source said the crime branch has begun generating lists of specific product IDs and their respective buyers. This data is then shared with district DCPs.“We are knocking on the doors of those who have purchased these products,” another senior officer said. “While many buy them under the guise of a harmless gadget, the sheer volume in a criminal context is staggering. When we visit these buyers, we conduct social profiling to determine if the purchase was for criminal intent.”Police surveillance of criminals who brandish weapons on social media has also revealed a consistent pattern: the weapons are almost always sourced online with two-day delivery.As long as lethal switchblades continue to masquerade as ‘safe kitchen knives’ in digital aisles, the law will remain one step behind a shopping cart that delivers crime directly to Delhi’s doorstep.
