New Delhi, April 29: The inquiry into the April 6 Dantewada massacre, conducted by ex- BSF director general E. N. Rammohan, shows only a handful of the 81 CRPF men had bulletproof jackets.
The home ministry has conceded that the paramilitary force is short of about 40,000 bulletproof jackets.
A tender floated last July, to procure 59,000 modern light- weight bulletproof jackets for the CRPF and other paramilitary forces, has still not been finalised.
Irregularities detected during the technical trials of these new jackets last year led to the process being initiated afresh, delaying the arrival of the shipment this January.
A CRPF source said a majority of the personnel without the life- saving jackets are posted in the Maoist strongholds. There are nearly 40,000 CRPF men posted in states fighting the Maoists.
The inquiry report also said only a few of the 76 CRPF men killed in the attack wore bulletproof jackets.
Consequently, a majority of them died of multiple bullet wounds.
“ Most CRPF men posted in Jammu and Kashmir and the North- East have bulletproof jackets but many of the personnel posted in Maoist areas face a shortage,” a source said.
The CRPF is not the only paramilitary force facing a shortage of the jackets. Even the elite National Security Guard ( NSG) is 1,725 jackets short of the 2,941 authorised by the ministry of home affairs ( MHA).
The CISF, which guards the airports, the Delhi Metro and other vital installations is also short of 15,127 bulletproof jackets.
All seven paramilitary forces combined face a shortage of 87,121 bulletproof jackets, the home ministry has told Parliament.
An MHA official said the supply of 59,000 new jackets is expected to start this June. However, one of the unsuccessful suppliers has yet again alleged irregularities in the selection process.
—Agencies