Guwahati: Controvery over bullet-proof jackets once again emerged in the country after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
Now this time, controvery over bullet-proof jackets provided to the security personnel has been emerged in Assam, after a Sub-Inspector of Assam Police had lost his life in a fierce gun fight with a militant group of banned outfit United Liberation Front of Asom – Independent (ULFA-I) at Bordumsa area in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district on May 4 evening.
Bhaskar Kalita, Officer-in-Charge of Bordumsa police station, who seriously injured in the encounter was taken to Tinsukia civil hospital, but was declared brought dead.
When Kalita's body was brought to the civil hospital, two holes were visible in his bullet-proof jacket.
Questions being raised over quality of the bullet-proof jackets supplied to the Assam police personnel after death of the police officer.
What kind of bullet-proof jackets have been provided to the police officers during the special operations against militants who equipped by sophisticated weapons.
In 2012, Home department of the state government had procured 1260 numbers Light Weight Bullet Proof Jackets under the Modernisation of Police Force (MPF) scheme and CAG had detected some irregularities over the bullet-proof jacket procurement.
It is to be mentioned that, after the 26/11 terror attack, Maharashtra Police had returned 1430 bulletproof jackets out of 4600 as the jackets failed the AK-47 bullet test during trials.
In Assam, such safety equipment normally tested at the Central Forensic Laboratory in Gujarat, but the question raised that, have the norms been strictly followed.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had directed a high level inquiry into the bullet-proof jacket issue.
On the other hand, the family members of the police officer who was died during encounter with ULFA-I militants after wearing bullet-proof jacket, also raised questions over the quality of the bullet-proof vest.
Wife of Bhaskar Kalita, Officer-in-Charge of Bordumsa police station died on May 4 evening said that, government had provided low quality bullet-proof vest to the Assam police personnel who engaged with the counter insurgency operations.
"Some disadvantage that, low quality bullet-proof jackets had provided to the Assam police personnel. Government should take initiative to improve it through periodic checking and to replace old varieties. To provide adequate protection covers to police officer or constable before leaving counter insurgency operation," Sangita Bonia, wife of the police officer said.
According to the CAG report of Assam government in the year 2013-14, 1260 numbers Light Weight Bullet Proof Jackets were supplied by M/S Tata Advanced Materials Limited, Bangalore in March 2012 at a unit cost of Rs 30,089.
After the allegations, now questions have been raised that, will Assam police will take stern action against the suppliers who supplied these bullet-proof jackets.
Assam police ADGP (SB) Pallab Bhattacharya said that, everything depends upon the situation where the incident was taken place.
"The Officer-in-Charge was wearing bullet-proof jacket and there is no doubt about that and government has already initiated an inquiry under a Additional Chief Secretary regarding the procurement and whole incident how it was took place. If the inquiry committee will find any irregularities, then government will definitely take appropriate action,"the top Assam cop said.
On the other hand, opposition leader of Assam Legislative Assembly and Congress MLA Debabrata Saikia said that, questions have been definitely raised over quality of the bullet-proof jacket provided to our security personnel after the death of brave police officer Bhaskar Kalita.
"Questions also raised that, when it was purchased, what’s type? Is it suitable to prevent the bullets of modern sophisticated weapons? It is important to probe into the matter very seriously," the Congress MLA said.
Will Assam government look into the issue seriously and to find out the actual facts.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
