Israeli-made rifle TAVOR better than AK-47: official

Srinagar, Feb 2 (PTI) Israeli-made TAVOR rifle wasbetter than the AK-47 for counter insurgency operations inJammu and Kashmir and Naxal-affected areas of the country, asenior CRPF official said today.

"I think it is better than the AK-47 rifle due to itseffectiveness and light weight," Inspector General(Operations) CRPF B N Ramesh told reporters on the sidelinesof a seminar here.

The four-kg TAVOR assault rifle uses 5.56 mm NATOammunition, originally developed in the United States for usein the M16 rifle. The rifle was first inducted in northKashmir, which is still infested with militancy.

Ramesh said the laser-fitted arm will enable thepersonnel of CRPF to pinpoint their target during thecounter-insurgency operations in the state and other Naxalaffected areas.

"It is very light weight and small in size but verypowerful with a long range," he added.

He said the process of modernisation of the weaponrywas an ongoing process in CRPF so that the force is able toeffectively carry out the tasks assigned to it.

"We have got this weapon and we are getting some morein near future," the official said.