Date:04/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/04/stories/2008120454150400.htm

New Delhi

BJP demands police reforms

Staff Reporter

“Do not have sufficient arms to fight terrorists”
“Inadequate security at railway, metro stations”

NEW DELHI: Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan has demanded that the Centre take immediate action for police reforms and provide modern arms and vehicles to the force. “The Delhi police do not have sufficient arms, vehicles and modern communication equipments to fight terrorists,” he added.

In a statement on Wednesday, the BJP leader said the terror attack in Mumbai had completely exposed the claims of the Railway Ministry. At Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal where two terrorists killed scores of innocent people, only a few policemen were posted and the rifles they were carrying were of very low grade in which only one bullet could be loaded at a time, he said, adding that the terrorists on the other hand were armed with AK-47 rifles.

Dr. Vardhan said even at New Delhi, Old Delhi and Nizamuddin railway stations in the Capital as also the Delhi Metro railway stations, policemen were not equipped with modern arms and intelligence agencies had time and again warned about possible terror attacks at places of public importance.

Pointing out that the jackets provided to the security personnel could not withstand fire from AK-47 rifles and grenades in Mumbai, Dr. Vardhan said it should be thoroughly probed if the bullet-proof jackets were of low grade. “That is the reason why so many policemen were killed,” he added.

Dr. Vardhan said scams in purchase of defence equipment had been reported from time to time. “The purchase of equipment should be enquired at the highest level so that the system of taking commission is ended and equipment of good quality are purchased,” he added.