Concerned over a spurt in the incidents of weapon-snatchingby militants, the Jammu and Kashmir Police will procure 4,000 weapon safetysystems known as Smart Electronic Trigger Lock Weapon Tracking System (SETLWTS)to deal with the menace.
According to reports, over 200 weapons, including AK-47s,self-loading rifles (SLRs) and INSAS rifles besides a large number ofammunition were snatched by the militants in the state during the last threeyears.
The state police recently floated tenders for purchasing the4,000 Weapon Safety System vehicles to ensure the safety of its arms andammunition.
“Tenders have been invited from manufacturers or theirauthorised dealers for the supply of Weapon Safety Systems (WSSs)-smartelectronic trigger lock weapon tracking system (SETLWTS),” AssistantInspector General (AIG) of Police, Mubassir Latifi said.
According to the specification, the WWSs must havetrigger-based locking units with GPS trackers so that they cannot be misusedand can be speedily traced, he said.
Such devices should also be compatible with fire arms andcould be removed only by the biometrics of authorised users. Any forcibleremoval will damage the whole trigger mechanism system.
The system also carries finger and palm print scannersfitted in the grip to operate trigger locks, the police official said.
Blaming overindulgence in use of smartphones by policepersonnel for the spike in gun-snatching incidents in the Kashmir Valley, thepolice had last year banned the use of such gadgets by its sentries during dutytime.
The order, issued by Additional Director General of Police(ADGP) A K Choudhary, had said the tendency not only lowers the image of thepolice, but also compromises with personal security of individuals.
The incidents of weapon-snatching have increased in theKashmir Valley, especially south Kashmir, after Hizbul Mujahideen commanderBurhan Wani’s killing in July 2016, officials said.
As militant recruitment increased in 2017 and 2018, reportssuggest that there is a shortfall of weaponry among the militant ranks, theysaid.
As many as 36 SLRs, 58 SLR magazines and 1,000 SLR roundsbesides eight AK47s, 15 of its magazines and 283 rounds were looted fromsecurity forces from May 2016 to December 31, 2016, according to an estimateprepared by the security agencies.
Also, 39 INSAS rifles, 119 INSAS magazines, 380 INSAS bulletrounds, four carbines, 70 carbine rounds, one .303 rifle and one LMG weresnatched by the militants during the period.