Police still to acquire weaponry to tackle 26/11 like attacks

Mumbai, May 24 (PTI) Despite losing 14 personnel and
having chinks in their armour exposed in the November 26
terror strikes, the police in India's financial capital are
still to acquire most of the weaponry and equipment they had
sought to tackle similar attacks in the future.

Modern weaponry including assault rifles, armoured
bullet proof vehicles, an amphibious vehicle, bullet proof
jackets, night vision goggles are among the items on the city
police wishlist which runs up an estimated bill of over Rs 100
crore.

The police had also sought advanced equipment for the
Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad including advanced devices
to find explosive substances and to defuse them.

A mobile bomb defusal unit in which bombs can be safely
detonated is expected to be delivered soon while a bomb
detection vehicle which scans for explosives using X-rays is
already undergoing trials with the city police.

"So far the weaponry we have ordered have not been
delivered since we have to order them from western countries,"
a senior city police official said.

"They have a long procedure to ensure the guns are
delivered to law enforcement agencies which has caused the
delay but we should be getting them soon," the official said.

Armoured vehicles have significance for the city police
which lost its Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare and
two other senior officials since the vehicle they were
travelling in was not bulletproof.

The city police are reported to be acquiring at least
15 armoured vehicles, usually used by the military in
insurgency prone areas, for any potential threats in the
future.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Administration) Bhagwant
More refused to comment on the acquisition of armoured
vehicles and weaponry.

The presence of coastal police stations in the city
and patrolling by police boats were of little deterrence to
terrorists who landed on the city's coast in a rubber craft on
November 26.

However, police officials now say there is regular
patrolling of the city's coast.

"We have acquired the requisite boats and are
patrolling the city's coast regularly," More told PTI.

Bunkers manned by armed police personnel had also been
set up in parts of the city following the November 26 strikes
to reassure people and ensure security.

But with the monsoon round the corner the police will
be re-evaluating whether the bunkers, most of which are in
open at prominent locations in south Mumbai, will continue to
stand.

"We will soon review the pickets that have been set up
and decide what is to be done about them," More said.

Patrolling and checking of vehicles on the city's
streets was also increased following the terror strikes and
continues to be high.

The Railway Police Force has also increased its
security capabilities after the attack at the heritage
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus which claimed 52 lives.

Authorities said the number of closed circuit cameras
had been increased in addition to enhancing weaponry of
personnel at important stations.

An X-ray baggage scanning machine has also been installed
at CST where random passengers bags are checked for suspicious
objects.

However, a Rs 226 crore security plan of railway police
has now to be re-evaluated after firms that bid for it sought
alternate means to recover their costs instead of the offered
advertising rights. PTI AG
PMR
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