4 yrs on, police force modernisation project still in cold storage

Post-26/11, the Maharashtra police had brought out a huge shopping list for modernising the force but barely any hi-tech equipment has been bought over the last four years.

The state government had sought 2,500 bulletproof jackets for the force. Tenders were called for the jackets initially, but officials dithered on taking a decision due to questions over quality. ATS chief Hemant Karkare was wearing a bullet-proof jacket when Kasab and his accomplice fired. The jacket went missing later.

The state government was expected to scrap the tender of supplying 82 bomb suits worth Rs 6.25 crore after the supplier failed to deliver the suits. After giving the supplier an initial payment, the government backtracked saying that the suits were made in China and not USA. The supplier was asked to present the suits for quality check and reply to a notice. No progress has been made.

"We have used most of the funds allotted after the attacks. Some procurement could not be done due to hurdles," said Home Minister R R Patil.

Moreover, the state government is yet to table an Action Taken Report (ATR) over the recommendations made by the two-member Ram Pradhan committee appointed by the government to probe the role and response of Mumbai police to the terror attacks. They had pointed at lapses and suggested measures to improve intelligence, formation of elite forces and co-ordination among agencies.

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