Bihar police to go hi-tech, 1690 AK-47 rifles purchased

Patna, Mar 24: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said the state police had been equipped with sophisticated firearms to frustrate all attempts of criminals.

Replying to a debate on the budgetary demands of the Home Department worth over Rs 1553.63 crore in the state Assembly, Mr Kumar said the number of AK-47 rifles purchased was 1690, while number of 5.56 mm Insas rifles was 4059, number of 7.62 mm self-loading rifles 13,681, number of nine mm carbrines 5382.

Similarly number of purchased 5.56 mm Insas light machine guns was 100, number of 7.62 light machine guns 35 and number of rocket launchers 66. The government had purchased 1665 bullet-proof jackets, 39 passive night vision devices, 63 passive night vision goggles and 434 commando lights.

Mr Kumar said the government had purchased 40 mine-protected vehicles, 79 bullet-proof jeeps, 50 riot-control vehicles, 21 motor boats, 11 water cannons, 700 commando jeeps, 35 ambulances and 156 jeeps besides, 68 zoom binoculars and a large number of equipment for detecting landmines and other explosives.

Announcing to launch ''Mukhya Mantri Zila Vikas Yojna'' in 15 such districts of the state not covered by ''Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojna'', Mr Kumar said the government was in favour of creating a situation when people did not commit crimes. He said the government also did not find any fault in permitting criminals to join the mainstream of the society if the latter put down their arms before the law.

He said 191 anti-socials had surrendered before him in the state recently and the people reacted to it (surrender) very enthusiastically.

He said such a policy of the government could not be called a policy, which would 'encourage' criminals.

The CM said the government had initiated a slew of steps for demoralising criminals and many of them had been booked under the Arms Act.

He said trial of such cases was going on yielding results speedily.

He said such criminals who indulged in unlawful activities again after their release from jails on bail, would be re-incarcerated.

He said execution of arrest warrants was also going on.

Mr Kumar said the high-ups in the government machinery were not getting phone calls for securing release of criminals from police custody.

He said the situation was changing in the state and people outside the state had also appreciated the fact.

The CM said all those who protected perpetrators of violence in the Bhagalpur riot of 1989 would be exposed once the report of Justice N N Singh Commission was available.

''The government was in know that no action was taken against rioteers even when sufficient evidence was available in 27 cases,'' he added.

He said slackness had been detected in lodging and investigating riot related cases.

''Riot victims were not properly rehabilitated despite long claims by many people,'' the CM said.

He said the government was not going to spare those who saved rioteers.

He said those who committed bunglings in the earlier appointment drive of police sub-inspectors and policemen would also not be spared.

Later, the house passed the budgetary demands of the home department by voice vote after rejecting the cut motion of RJD member Jagtanand Singh.

UNI