Over 58 lakh outlived bullets not yet disposed by police: CAG

Chandigarh, March 21

Over 58 lakh bullets that have outlived their shelf life were yet to be disposed of by the Punjab's Home Affairs department despite Defence Ministry's clarification against use of such ammunition, a CAG report said.

In its report on social, general and economic sectors, the government auditor has observed in 20 test-checked field units during March-June 2014 of the department, 10.55 lakh 9 mm bullets that were past their expiration dates, some by even 28 years, remain in stores of 16 field units.

In 2011, the MoD had clarified that ammunition had an average shelf life of 5-7 years and must be disposed of beyond that period to ensure safety.

CAG also found that, with the state not having an examiner since the last one retired in 2010, redundant ammunition could not be checked for its serviceability.

In August last year, ADGP had stated that a committee had been constituted to dispose of redundant ammunition under the chairmanship of DIG (PAP) on the recommendations of ammunition examiner hired from the Border Security Force.

Rapping the Punjab's Home Affairs and Justice Department, the government auditor found that 113 weapons, including rifles, revolver, sten guns, carbines and pistols, in nine test-checked field units at several places — including Ferozepur, Amritsar, Pathankot, Jalandhar and Mohali — were declared unserviceable and were not deposited in the Central Armoury.

It was also noticed that 1,241 unserviceable weapons already deposited in central armoury had not been disposed off, the report said.

Standing Orders provide arms declared unserviceable by state Assistant Inspector Arms (AIA) should be deposited in central armoury at Bahadurgarh, Patiala, for their disposal according to DGP’s orders.

The CAG also found that arms, including rifle (21,016), muskets (4,839) and sten guns (5,809), were still lying with 16 field units and awaiting replacement with prescribed weapons despite instructions issued 24 years ago.

A committee constituted by the Home Ministry to assess the requirement of weapons for state police forces in August 1990 had recommended that obsolete weapons, especially .303 rifles and .410 muskets, should be replaced with 7.62 mm family of weapons and sten guns should be replaced with 9mm carbines.

However, in August 2014, ADGP had stated that obsolete arms would be replaced in a phased manner on receipt of new ones. — PTI