Old school Mumbai cops struggle with imported bandooks

Mumbai policemen, used to firing six rounds a year from outdated guns, make slow progress during training in state-of-art arms sourced globally post 26/11

Mumbai policemen, used to firing six rounds a year from outdated guns, make slow progress during training in state-of-art arms sourced globally post 26/11

The training of local cops by American experts in the handling and use of state of the art new arms that include 1,200 US-made Smith and Wesson handguns, 900 Glock pistols and over 400 Heckler and Koch MP5 submachine guns ordered post 26/11 will take at least six more months.

"While the Americans are already training our policemen at the local arms headquarters, this will take some time," admitted Commissioner of Police D Sivanandhan.

Koch MP5 submachine gun

Even as fresh consignments of weapons and paraphernalia, like armoured carriers and night vision goggles, find their way to local arms arsenals, cops used to ancient 303 rifles are grappling hard with the inevitable theory lessons they are required to take due to the upgradation.

"After the theory lessons, the policemen will be taught to dismantle the new Smith and Wessons and Glocks, following which they will be taken to shooting ranges.

A majority of cops chosen for training were sanctioned an average of six rounds a year. Some have not fired a round for years.
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I think it will be at least six months before the cops learn to handle the new arms," said the officer.

Eight months have passed since November 26, 2008, when suspected LeT terrorists attacked Mumbai, killing 173 people and wounding at least 308.

800
Number of rounds one can fire per minute from a German MP5 Heckler and Koch submachine gun that is currently used by NSG commandoesu00a0

18
Number of rounds that the latest Smith and Wesson handgun can fire

6
Number of rounds the Smith and Wesson vintage model used by the police firesu00a0

15
Number of rounds the new Glock 19 pistol fires