Posted on 12/03/2008 6:53:18 PM PST by marktwain
MUMBAI: The state constabulary was grossly unprepared to deal with the worst-ever terror attacks on the metropolis because of an acute shortage of weapons and ammunition.
Official records show that for a force of well over 1.8 lakh, the home department procured a meagre 2,221 weapons — 577 for Mumbai, and 1,644 for the rest of Maharashtra.
‘‘Under the centrally sponsored modernisation programme, we purchased almost all types of weapons, but for a state like Maharashtra, the number of weapons was grossly inadequate ,’’ a senior official told TOI on Monday.
In the absence of a firing range and of ammunition for practice, members of the law enforcement agencies have not opened fire in the last ten years. ‘‘I’ve been in the police force for a long time, but I had no occasion to open fire for practice,’’ a senior inspector of police said.
As per the police manual, officials ranking from constable to assistant inspector get rifles with 30 rounds each, and those with the rank of police sub-inspector and above get revolvers, also with 30 rounds each.
Jawans with the State Reserve Police Force are given SLRs or self-loading rifles. In addition, AK-47 rifles have been given to officials posted in areas where there is Naxal activity, while officials on VIP security duty are armed with either revolvers or carbines.
The manual also prescribes mandatory training for all officials, especially shooting practice at the firing range. According to a senior IPS official, the norms prescribed in the manual now exist only on paper because of the acute shortage of ammunition for practice and the non-availability of a firing range.
As per the rules, every district should have a firing range exclusively for the police. But official records indicate that more than half the state’s districts have no independent firing range.
‘‘We have constables who have not opened fire even for practice ever since their recruitment,’’ the official said.
Thought you would like to see this article.
if you dont use it, you lose it
>They had not fired in more than 10 years.
If they’re not going to use them, they can send them to me... I’ll pay the shipping for `em.
Hooligans!
I had to look up that a lakh means 100,000.
So a force of 180,000 cops had only 2,221 weapons among them. Only around 1% of officers have firearms.
Well hell....there doesn’t need to be anymore talk about WAR by India with only 577 rifles . . Geez.
What’s the ammo inventory count ?
Nukes may be the only option ? LOL
Well hell....there doesn’t need to be anymore talk about WAR by India with only 577 rifles . . Geez.
What’s the ammo inventory count ?
Nukes may be the only option ? LOL
Hell, they probably didn’t know HOW!
I said that the other day ~ this is India, not New York City.
http://www.abhijeetsingh.com/arms/india/
Colonial Roots of Gun-Control
"I live in India and I am a proud firearm owner - but I am the exception not the norm, an odd situation in a country with a proud martial heritage and a long history of firearm innovation.
This is not because the people of India are averse to gun ownership, but instead due to Draconian anti-gun legislation going back to colonial times....."
This was only the beginning of an interesting read.
***Cops just had 577 rifles, hadn’t fired in 10 yrs****
I first thought that they had .577 cal Martini Henry rifles!
The type used in the film ZULU.
They still make ammo for them?
Yeah, there was some heat as to these guys being all cowards and such.
I didn't buy it.
I thought leadership, training( if any ).
These guys were worse than no police at all, because they gave a false sense of security. Like boarding a party fishing boat to go deep sea fishing for the day, and see chests labeled ‘life preservers’ but that are empty.
Another government, taking tax money by force, and faking it.
I’ve seen comments like “indian police are cowards” on the internet. I think its extremely unfair in light of the information we now know. If you were the police with no gun, you’ll be hiding too
Don't discount "the gun-control mentality" that caused this situation. It didn't help, did it?
And if none of the good guys have guns, they can complete their mission unhindered. Lather, rinse, repeat.
That would explain why they didn’t fire. Who wants to be the first to fire a weapon that hasn’t been fired in 10 years? Probably small mice living in it.
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