Ahmedabad police have procured more than 25 Swiss-made SIG assault rifles for security during Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and Vibrant Gujarat Summit. Senior police officials said the SIG assault rifle fires the Nato standard 5.56 mm ammunition. Police sources said both the 5.56 ammunition and the SIG assault rifles are used by NATO forces of the United Nations.
"The 5.56 round is thinner, very accurate and effective when shooting at long-range targets up to 300 metres away," added a senior police official. The SIG magazine capacity is 30 rounds and can fire a single shot as well as a burst. The weapon could prove important in fighting terror. "We will organize a training session for selected policemen to acquaint them with the weapon," added a police official.
Earlier, city police had acquired sophisticated MP5 submachine guns. "Select personnel had a training session for the use of the MP5 submachine guns," said the official. Ahmedabad police have also, for the first time, acquired bullet and trauma proof jackets. "The jackets are bulletproof and thrust-proof and protect the wearer from the impact and trauma of a bullet hit," said an official.
This is the first time Ahmedabad police have been equipped with such modern weapons for security. "The alert sounded by the central intelligence agencies after the Peshwar attack prompted state police to acquire modern weapons," said a senior official.
Swaraj reviews preparations
Union minister for external affairs Sushma Swaraj reviewed preparations for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) celebrations. Swaraj was accompanied by minister of state for external affairs General (Retd) V K Singh and Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel. The Union minister visited the venue, Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, where she was briefed by various state government officials about the preparations. Swaraj also visited Kanakaria Lake and Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad where cultural events are to be held on January 8 and 9.
She also held meeting with ministers and officials and gave them necessary instructions. She was also shown a presentation covering the celebrations. Swaraj said, “This is the centenary year of Mahatma Gandhi's return from South Africa. It is a big event for us. For such a big event, the preparations need to be equally grand. I have come here to review preparations for PDB.”
While the main event of PBD will be held at Mahatma Mandir from January 7 to 9, some cultural events are scheduled to take place at Kankaria and the Sabarmati riverfront.
