The government will soon procure mine-protected vehicles for the movement of paramilitary forces in the Naxalism-hit areas and Jammu and Kashmir and remotely operated vehicles to help anti-militancy commando force NSG in encounter sites, officials said Tuesday.
Expenditure sanction for Rs 613.96 crore has been issued toparamilitary forces such as CRPF and the BSF for the purchase of additionalmine-protected vehicles, bullet-proof jackets, ambulance, etc.
Expenditure sanction for Rs 16.84 crore has also been issuedto the National Security Guard (NSG) for the purchase of seven remotelyoperated vehicles, a Home Ministry official said.
The forces such as CRPF uses mine-protected vehicles (MPVs)for limited troop movements in areas affected by Naxalism and in Jammu andKashmir. About six personnel can travel in one such four-wheeled vehicle.
When the additional MPVs will arrive, it will enhancecapabilities of the paramilitary forces countering improvised explosivesdevices (IEDs) in Naxalism-hit areas and in Kashmir Valley, the official said.
The remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), to be procured forthe NSG, can carry out surveillance inside buildings, buses, Metro and railwaystations and can help forces locate and defuse IEDs without human intervention.
The ROVs can climb a staircase or a slope of at least 45 degrees with a weight of 8kg. It will have modular mount for weapon system (SMG, MP5 and shotgun), de-armer disrupter and real-time viewing system with X-ray, another official said.