Not just the ministry of defence, but the Union home ministry has gone into an overdrive to fill the shortage of arms and ammunition in police forces across states.
The issue gained prominence during the chief ministers’ conference on internal security on Monday with Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi raking up the controversy alleging it is not the defence forces
alone who are facing a shortage but states are also unable to equip their police personnel adequately.
The Union home ministry has thought of a more practical way to tide over the shortage and has told state governments and UTs that it is making available self-loading rifles (SLRs) and light machine guns (LMG’s) at the cost of Rs1,000 and Rs2,000 each for state police forces.
These weapons have been drawn from the 'surplus stock' of the Central Armed Police Forces consequent to the change in calibre of the basic weapons being used by them.
“Almost all the weapons are in good condition and can be used by the state police forces,” it has said.
The MHA has asked state police forces and UT police organisations to place their requirements immediately.
The home ministry has also prepared its own shopping list of 16 high-tech arms and ammunition being procured for the Central armed police forces.
This includes hightech weaponry such as multiple grenade launchers, under-barrel grenade launchers, glock pistols, sniper rifles, bullet-proof vehicles, mine protected vehicles, bullet-proof helmets and jackets, AK series rifles, and ammunition.
States have been allowed to piggy back on the purchases being made by the MHA to boost their own stock of weaponry.
The Central armed police forces, meanwhile, have been asked to pool in their stock of 'old arms and
ammunition' for states.
A list of 22 items has been shared with the states consisting of various arms and ammunition pooled in by the National Security Guards, Assam Rifles, BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP and SSB.
Even as it extends a helping hand to states, the MHA has asked state governments to strictly follow the
procedures for import of various types of weaponry and equipment saying that it has come to its notice
that the norms are being violated.