| With rise in terror attacks, CRPF to get 7,000 AK-47 rifles, major chunk for Jammu, Kashmir operations | | | Agencies
New Delhi, Feb 11: With spate of terror attacks in Kashmir Valley, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is expected to get at least 7,000 AK-47 rifles out of the 39,000 AK-47 rifles procured from Bulgaria for the security forces and state police.
Top official in CRPF have confirmed that 39,000 AK- 47 rifles have been procured from Bulgaria for the reserve police and four other Central Armed Police Force along with 22 state police which will share the pool of the weapons.
Of the 7,000 AK-47 rifles, huge lot will be sent to Jammu and Kashmir where the force is still neck-deep fighting militancy while the rest of the weapons will be sent to fight Naxals and insurgency in the Northeast.
DG CRPF RR Bhatnagar said, "We will soon be getting the procurement of the AKs and we will be sending it to fill vacancies (of weapon) against authorised strength." He, however, confirmed that majority of it will be sent to Kashmir Valley.
With 342 terrorists related violence occurring in trouble-torn Jammu and Kashmir in 2017, at least 80 security personnel's were martyred while 40 civilians lost their lives.
Sources said CRPF will also get a at least 20 sniper rifles. Furthermore, at least 27 light bullet proof vehicles will soon be made available for the forces. While 35 more will be ordered. CRPF has been using vehicles with "Jugaad" bullet-proofing -- a mechanism which consists of putting on a panel, a metal sheet on one side and wood on another side. A concrete mix is poured into the hollow fixing the panel. The troopers than put different shapes and sizes of the panel to the inside and outside of the vehicles to make it bulletproof. But, though considered a quick fix, the weight slows down the vehicle considerably. And is no answer to the proper bullet proof vehicle.
Last 29,000 pieces of this Russian Kalashnikov Automatic rifles were imported by forces like CRPF, BSF and NSG in 2011-2012. This time the procurement was propelled after Union Home Ministry decided to cut-down the red-tapism to procure latest weapons and equipment for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). The procurement process has been fast-tracked to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness of the CAPFs and continued need for modernisation of the forces. A global tender was floated by the CRPF a year ago. While the weapons order were placed four months ago from a Bulgaria-based company. Sources said, "We are expecting the stock within next three to four months. This will boost the performance."
CRPF, a three lakh force, has been, for some time, planning to reduce the numbers of INSAS rifles in its armoury -- a decision taken after a technical and scientific comparison with the sophisticated AK rifles which have become a preferred weapon of combat.
The Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) rifle has been the primary weapon of the force for many years now and it is even relied upon by the Indian Army for use by its troops in various conflict theatres.
The INSAS, developed by the Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) in late 1980s, was meant as Made in India weapon for the Indian infantry forces, but despite few drawbacks it remained integral to security forces in the country. |
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