J&K Police to get new riot-control equipment

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir police force is all set to procure hi-tech riot control equipment to deal with the protestors in an effective manner and to protect its men from getting harmed while controlling the crowds.

According to reports reaching here, fresh tenders have been floated by the Jammu and Kashmir police headquarters about procuring riot control equipment.

The move comes despite that fact that the level of protests in Srinagar, the summer capital of the newly carved out Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and other districts of the UT, especially southern districts of Kashmir have witnessed a steep decline in the level of protests since past two years. The final date for submitting samples from the authorized manufactures has been fixed as February 27.

Official sources said that the equipment police is going to get includes riot helmets, face visors, body armour, vests, neck protectors, knee pads, gas masks and shields.

Besides, they said that the J&K police is mulling to procure popular tear gas including the eye irritants ortho-chlorobenzylidene-malononitrile (CS gas), chloroacetophenone (CN gas), and dibenz (b,f)-1,4-oxazepine (CR gas). “Among a long list of substances, these three have become of greater importance than the others because of their effectiveness and low risks when used,” they said.

A senior police officer said that force is on a path of procuring all the possible modern equipment to deal with the law and order challenges and also the challenges of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

“We are on a track of procuring hi-tech gadgets to give our technical capabilities a major boost. Police force in J&K is engaged on many fronts that includes controlling crime, deal with criminals, local issues, conducting investigations, dealing with the law and order issues and above all the challenge of militancy,” he said.

Sources in the police said that procurement of new gadgets is being done under the police modernization plan which is funded by Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Pertinently, police had floated tenders to procure many hi-tech gadgets that include Remote Operating Vehicles (RoVs), a helicopter, a bomb inhibitor and TCV. “This all is to give a major boost to our technical capabilities to face challenges on militancy front effectively,” the official said.