Shooting practice a must for cops

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 21

In the wake of the terror threat and the recent terror strikes in the state, the Punjab Police have made the biannual shooting target practice for policemen “an absolute must”.

Those skipping it “will have to wait for their departmental promotions”.

The district police have been given orders to ensure that all policemen deployed as gunmen or even in computer cells are “sent for the twice-a-year target shooting” where they will also get lessons to operate weapons.

Sources within the Police Department confirmed that in the recent past, “many junior-rung officials” have been skipping the “otherwise mandatory” weapons training on one pretext or the other.

“In the wake of terror threat, increasing gang war and the upcoming poll, the force cannot be lethargic when it comes to the use of weapons,” they said.

The government in a recent letter has highlighted that “it has come to our notice that police officers are ignoring the shooting sessions due to which old ammunition is getting accumulated in all police districts and their expiry date is also nearing”.

“Given the day-to-day circumstances, it is important for every policeman to go through this weapons training so that the force is well-equipped to face any situation,” reads the letter dated September 29.

During an anti-terror drill recently, a head constable took out handwritten notes from his pocket. “He wanted to read how to handle a weapon that he had last touched during his training days in the academy. He said he never got to use that advanced weapon in the firing range where he had got an SLR for practice,” says an officer.

In a separate letter shot to all commissioners and SSP-ranked officials, the state government has made it mandatory for 100 per cent police force “deputed with various wings” to ensure that they undergo annual weapons training.

“Those deputed at manning gates and buildings, gunmen and even those posted in headquarters will take part in the annual firing sessions,” reads the letter, a copy of which is with The Tribune.

To ensure that all policemen take this note seriously, the government has said in the orders “AIG Armament should be handed over the list of all policemen who report for weapons shooting sessions.”