Hyderabad, November 23: Even as the Andhra Pradesh police is stocking up its armoury by purchasing non-lethal and other weapons, anticipating large-scale violence post December 31, a new set of riot control vehicles manufactured by Mahindra Defence Systems, are all set to join the state police force.
The Rapid Intervention Vehicles (RIVs), compact vehicles which can easily move inside narrow streets in densely populated areas and fire several rounds of tear gas shells at one go to chase away violent mobs, will be arriving in Hyderabad much before December 31.
Once these vehicles arrive, policemen carrying tear gas shell launchers, taking the aim and firing them will become a passe.
Government sources disclosed to Express that the state police had placed the orders for a dozen RIVs several months ago and the vehicles would be delivered in the next few days.
The vehicles, which will come with multi-functional abilities, will have a two multi-tube, multi-directional tear gas launchers from which 14 shells can be fired in a single shot.
Sources say the vehicle, which costs approximately Rs 9 lakh, will be useful when the police need to fire tear gas shells on protestors who play hide and seek with the police in narrow lanes and by-lanes. The vehicles will also be equipped with a high decibel public address system, a built-in generator, powerful halogens as search lights and shields which will provide cover to the police personnel.
Further, it can accommodate five policemen and carry nearly 500 kg of antiriot equipment. It will have an all-round mesh for protection.
They will have two roof-top openings and strong fenders to clear road blocks like burning tyres or any other object thrown before the vehicle. The vehicles are being purchased under the Modernisation of Police (MoP) programme.
“Since it can fire 14 tear gas shells in a single shot, it will substitute nearly 12 policemen who do the job. We asked the Mahindra Defence Systems to deliver the vehicles before December 31 and they have agreed to it,” a police official said adding that the compact vehicle could be easily be manoeuvred in narrow lanes of densely populated areas.
The RIVs are already being used by the police in Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.
Sources said the police realised the need for the vehicles since, during violence by mobs, bigger vehicles like Vajra available with the Rapid Action Force (RAF) were unable to move inside the lanes and by-lanes forcing the forces to physically carry the tear gas launchers and fire them which often resulting in injuries to the personnel.
–Agencies